Association between nursing students’ self-reported professionalism and patient safety competencies: A cross-sectional study

Dominika  Kohanová; Andrea  Sollárová; Dana  Zrubcová; Ewelina  Kolarczyk; Andrea  Botíková

doi:10.18502/npt.v13i2.21470

Dominika Kohanová Department of Nursing, Faculty of Social Sciences and Health Care, Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Slovakia
Andrea Sollárová Department of Nursing, Faculty of Social Sciences and Health Care, Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Slovakia
Dana Zrubcová Department of Nursing, Faculty of Social Sciences and Health Care, Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Slovakia
Ewelina Kolarczyk Department of Propaedeutics of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Andrea Botíková Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Care and Social Work, Trnava University, Trnava, Slovakia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/npt.v13i2.21470

Keywords: nursing education; professionalism; patient safety; nursing students; nursing

Abstract

Background & Aim: Nurses play a key role in safeguarding patients, highlighting the need to develop both technical competence and professional identity in nursing students. Although professionalism and patient safety competencies are widely studied, their association remains underexplored, particularly in Central Europe. This study examined the association between Slovak nursing students’ self-reported professionalism and patient safety competencies.

Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,017 nursing students from all nine Slovak public universities offering bachelor’s and master’s programs. Data were collected between February and December 2024 using a questionnaire comprising the Slovak versions of the H-PEPSS and the NPI. Descriptive statistics, the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test, and Spearman’s correlations were applied.

Results: Significant positive associations were found between professionalism and all patient safety competence domains in both academic and clinical settings (all p≤0.001), with the strongest correlations observed for Culture of safety (academic ρ= 0.347; clinical ρ = 0.400). After adjustment using partial Spearman correlations, Working in teams with other health professionals (academic ρ_partial= 0.112; clinical ρ_partial= 0.132) and Culture of safety (academic ρ_partial=0.108; clinical ρ_partial= 0.143) remained independently associated with professionalism. In the academic setting, Communicating effectively (ρ_partial = 0.068) and Understanding human and environmental factors (ρ_partial= 0.085) also showed small independent associations. Professionalism levels were high (Md= 129.0, IQR= 116.0–142.0).

Conclusion: Professionalism and patient safety competencies are closely interconnected among Slovak nursing students. Students who report stronger professionalism also report higher safety competence. Integrating both more deliberately in nursing education may help support safer practice.