This study conducted descriptive research with nurses at a general hospital located in “G” in order to investigate their perceptions of patient safety culture, organizational communication, and patient safety management activity levels and influential factors.

To achieve the purpose of this study, a survey was conducted with nurses working at a general hospital located in “G.” The data was collected using a self-report questionnaire from July 12 to 25, 2018, and a total of 183 sheets were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 21.0.

The study results are summarized in detail as follows:

(1) The average score of the research subjects’ perceptions of patient safety culture was 3.59±0.36 out of 5; the frequency of accident reports scored the highest at 4.38±0.75, while the work environment in the department was the lowest at 3.39±0.31. The average score of organizational communication was 3.74±0.51; vertical communication scored the highest at 3.86±0.47, while the organizational atmosphere was the lowest at 3.51±0.57. The average score of patient safety management activities was 4.51±0.32; blood transfusion scored the highest at 4.93±0.20, while communication was the lowest at 4.05±0.75.

(2) As for their perceptions of patient safety culture according to general characteristics, age (F=4.25, ρ=.006), total work experience (F=8.59, ρ=<.001), and work experience in the current department (F=4.14, ρ=.007) showed significant differences. Organizational communication revealed a significant difference according to the current department (F=4.13, ρ=.018). In addition, patient safety management activities showed significant differences according to age (F=2.79, ρ=.042) and total work experience (F=3.28, ρ=.022).

(3) The research subjects’ patient safety management activities showed significant and positive correlations with organizational communication (r=.51, ρ<.001) and their perceptions of patient safety culture (r=.41, ρ<.001).

(4) The factors affecting the research subjects’ patient safety management activities were organizational communication (β=.41, ρ<.000) and their perceptions of patient safety culture (β=.18, ρ<.025), which revealed an explanatory power of 29.5%.

Based on the results, it was revealed that the nurses’ perceptions of patient safety culture and organizational communication affected their patient safety management activities. Therefore, it is necessary to improve their perceptions of patient safety culture by providing continuous training at the level of organization and hospital as well as creating a work environment for positive patient safety culture so as to provide better safety management activities for patient safety. It is also necessary for hospitals and organizations to provide full support by utilizing programs to encourage open organizational communication and communication media to develop a range of communication channels for nurses in order to enhance organizational communication as well as patient safety management activities.