Abstract: Objective: To examine the status quo of attitudes toward patient safety and professionalism of nursing students, and to explore the influencing factors. Methods: A convenience sample of 1 402 nursing students undergoing clinical practice was recruited in six different regions of China through Internet. Attitudes toward Patient Safety and Professionalism Survey was conducted. Results: The average score of attitudes toward patient safety and professionalism was 137.12±20.18. Results from multiple linear regression analysis indicated that clinical practice duration, degree of education, whether having nursing errors during the clinical practice, whether receiving patient safety related training, whether having access to patient safety related knowledge, whether taking multi-culture related courses were the major influencing factors which explained 12.0% of the variance of attitudes toward patient safety and professionalism. Conclusion: The level of attitudes toward patient safety and professionalism of nursing students needs to be improved. Education related factors were the major influencing factors. We suggest nursing educators take measures to improve attitudes toward patient safety and professionalism of nursing students while they are taking courses at school.

Key words: patient safety; nursing education; nursing error