LAUSR

PURPOSE This study examined the relationship between patient safety competence and safe care from the viewpoints of nurses working in psychiatry wards. DESIGN AND METHODS The present descriptive correctional study was conducted in two psychiatry hospitals in Iran in 2020. All the nurses were selected as the study participants using the census sampling method (N = 209). FINDINGS Nurses' patient safety competency was at a low level (2.54 ± 0.52), but nurses' safe care was at a moderate level (242.08 ± 61.32). A strong positive relationship was found between the patients' safety competency and nurses' safe care (p = 0.001, r = 0.84). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Nursing managers should support nurses by providing the required resources and operational strategies to improve their competency and safe care in providing quality care.