title: Nursing accreditation system and patient safety.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated whether nursing accreditation level affects patient safety.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The nursing accreditation system evaluates the capabilities of nursing professionals in Taiwan. While this system has been in place for years, few studies have investigated whether nursing accreditation level is associated with patient safety indicators. This study can help in understanding how nursing capabilities affect patient safety and can subsequently contribute to improvements in patient safety.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study adopted a cross-sectional research design using questionnaires to collect responses from nurses working in two major medical centres in northern Taiwan. Regression analyses were conducted to test the study hypothesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analytical results show that nursing accreditation level is positively related to patient safety indicators.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health services managers should encourage nurses to advance their knowledge, skills, and professional capabilities because these may be positively related to patient safety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing managers who seek to improve patient safety should consider encouraging nurses to advance their accreditation level.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Business and Management, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. chingit@mail.cgu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Ching-I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Yea-Ing Lotus
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Shyu
authors.forename: Yu-Tzu
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: May-Kuen
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Tsung-Lan
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Tin-An
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult