• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.114-123
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• 2021

Purpose: This study investigated the influence of nurses' organizational communication and self-leadership on patient safety competence in comprehensive nursing care units of small and medium-sized hospitals. Methods: A descriptive design was used and self-reported questionnaires were used to collect data from 165 nurses in Seoul from February to March, 2020. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression with SPSS/WIN 22.0 program. Results: A mean score of organizational communication was 3.20±0.49, self-leadership 3.58±0.50, and patient safety competency 4.01±0.49 out of 5. A significant positive correlation was found between patient safety competence, organizational communication and self-leadership. Self-leadership and combined ward explained 32% of the variance of patient safety competence (Adjusted R²=.32, p<.001). Conclusion: Patient safety competence in comprehensive nursing care units are associated with self-leadership and organizational communication. Systemic education to improve patient safety competence in small and medium sized hospitals should be implemented to promote organizational communication as well as self-leadership.