Investigating the Professional Commitment and its Correlation with Patient Safety Culture and Patient Identification Errors: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Study from Nurses' Perspectives

Abstract

Introduction Nurses' professional commitment is crucial to their qualifications, impacting patient safety. This study aims to explore the relationship between nurses' professional commitment and patient safety culture, specifically focusing on patient identification errors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 involving 340 nurses working in educational medical hospitals in southern Iran. Data collection instruments included questionnaires on nurses' professional commitment, patient identification errors, and patient safety culture. Descriptive and inferential statistics, such as t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression, were performed using SPSS software version 23, with a significance level set at p = 0.05. Results The mean scores for professional commitment, patient safety culture, and errors in patient identification, as perceived by the nurses, were 77.64 ± 14.32 (out of 130), 2.71 ± 0.78 (out of 5), and 16.41 ± 4.58 (out of 32), respectively. There was a statistically significant correlation between professional commitment and errors in patient identification (r = -0.577, p < 0.001) as well as patient safety culture (r = 0.456, p < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that nursing job satisfaction, understanding of nursing, self-sacrifice for the nursing profession, and engagement with the nursing profession were predictors of patient safety culture and errors in patient identification (p < 0.05). Conclusion Nurses' professional commitment was found to be at a moderate level. Furthermore, the dimensions of professional commitment significantly influenced patient safety culture and errors in patient identification. To enhance nurses' professional commitment, and subsequently improve patient safety culture and reduce identification errors, it is recommended to implement management mechanisms that increase job satisfaction, understanding, engagement, and professional self-sacrifice among nurses.