Nurses’ Perception of Patient Safety Culture at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital

Background: A positive patient safety culture is foundational to preventing medical errors and adverse events. Nursing staff perceptions of safety culture directly influence reporting behaviour and care quality. Aim: This study examined nurses' perceptions of patient safety culture at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, South East Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed. One hundred and five registered nurses were recruited through stratified random sampling. The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture instrument was adapted and administered. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26, with descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Teamwork within units scored highest at 71%, while non-punitive response to errors scored lowest at 32%. Overall, 47% of nurses rated safety culture positively. Fear of punitive consequences was the primary barrier to incident reporting. Management commitment to safety was cited as insufficient by 63% of respondents. Conclusion: Nurse perceptions of patient safety culture are mixed, with critical weaknesses in error reporting systems and leadership engagement. Hospital management should prioritise creating blame-free reporting environments, safety training, and transparent incident review processes. Keywords: patient safety culture, nursing, hospital safety, Enugu, incident reporting.