How Does Nurse Compassion Competence Influence Patient Safety Incidents? Exploring the Mediating Role of Safety Standards Adherence

Fostering compassion competence in nurses can enhance adherence to safety standards, ultimately leading to a reduction in patient safety incidents in healthcare environments. The findings underscore the critical role of compassion competence not just as a desirable nursing trait but as a strategic lever for improving patient safety. Healthcare organizations should implement structured professional development programs that cultivate empathy, emotional intelligence, and effective communication-core elements of compassion competence. Nursing leadership must also embed compassion-driven practices into patient safety protocols, promote a culture of accountability and empathy, and support interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure consistent adherence to safety standards and minimize preventable harm.