The Influences of New Graduate Nurses’ Fatigue, Critical Thinking, and Nursing Work Environment on Patient Safety Nursing Behaviors

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the influences of fatigue, critical thinking, and nursing work environment on patient safety nursing behaviors among new graduate nurses. Methods: The participants were 180 new graduate nurses who had been working for less than 12 months in hospitals. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered survey from December 15 to 30, 2023. The SPSS version 29.0 program was used for data analysis, which included descriptive analysis, the t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis. Results: Hierarchical regression analysis showed that critical thinking (β=.32, p<.001) and department orientation (β=.31, p<.001) were significant factors influencing patient safety nursing behavior. Conclusion: These results suggest that providing sufficient departmental orientation for new graduate nurses is necessary to support accurate and safe patient safety nursing practices. In addition, it is important to foster critical thinking and to develop and implement educational programs that enhance patient safety nursing behaviors, and to establish comprehensive support systems.