Patient safety is a crucial component of healthcare delivery, with the primary goal of preventing harm to patients during their interactions with healthcare systems. Since the release of the “To Err is Human” report by the Institute of Medicine in 1999 [1], numerous initiatives have been implemented by healthcare organizations to address preventable medical errors and improve patient safety. Patient safety is defined as “the reduction of the risk of unnecessary harm associated with healthcare to an acceptable minimum” [2], and it is heavily influenced by key factors: adverse events, missed nursing care, and nursing care quality [3], [4], [5], [6], [7]. Missed nursing care refers to any aspect of required patient care that is omitted or delayed [4], while adverse events encompass incidents that result in harm or injury to patients during their healthcare treatment [3], [4], [6], [7]. On the other hand, nursing care quality refers to the delivery of safe, effective, and patient-centered care by nurses [5], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12]. By focusing on reducing missed nursing care and adverse events and promoting high-quality nursing care, healthcare organizations strive to enhance patient safety and improve overall care outcomes.

Nurse caring ability refers to a nurse's capacity and skill to provide compassionate, empathetic, and patient-centered care to individuals under their supervision [13], [14]. In emergency departments, nurse caring ability is of utmost importance due to the unique and critical nature of the care provided in this setting. In the fast-paced and high-stress environment of the emergency department, where patients often arrive in distress and require immediate attention, nurse caring behaviors are vital for establishing a therapeutic and supportive environment, promoting positive patient experiences, fostering effective communication, and improving patient safety outcomes [13], [14].

Nurses' caring abilities are heavily influenced by a multitude of factors. These challenges include time constraints, nursing staffing issues, and the demanding nature of shift work, which can be exacerbated by a lack of adequate organizational support [8]. Additionally, it's essential to acknowledge that nurses' demographic characteristics, such as age, gender, years of experience, and educational background, can also play a role in influencing their caring abilities [14], [15], [18], [19]. Furthermore, the nurse's work environment, job satisfaction, job engagement, and the weight of their workload have all been identified as significant factors that impact their capacity to provide compassionate care [21], [22]. Therefore, it is essential to consider the holistic picture of a nurse's background and work environment when addressing their ability to deliver high-quality care.

Nurse caring ability plays a pivotal role in not only enhancing nursing care quality but also in promoting patient safety by reducing missed nursing care and adverse events in healthcare settings. Caring behaviors, such as empathy, compassion, active listening, and emotional support, have been shown to contribute to patient-centered care and enhance the overall quality of patient care [13], [14]. When nurses exhibit these caring behaviors, they foster trust, alleviate patients' anxiety and fear, and promote effective communication [15], which is essential for accurate assessments and tailored interventions [16]. Moreover, nurse caring behaviors help in building strong nurse-patient relationships, enhancing patient engagement, and increasing adherence to treatment plans, ultimately resulting in reduced hospital stays and improved quality and satisfaction [9], [17]. Compelling evidence demonstrates that the caring behaviors of nurses, including establishing connections and providing patient assurance and respect, significantly influence patient satisfaction [18], [19]. Conversely, a lack of or inadequate provision of caring has been associated with heightened psychological distress and anxiety, an increased risk of compromises in nursing care, a higher incidence of adverse events, and reduced patient satisfaction ratings [20], [23].

Caring, as a subject of research, has been extensively studied, with most studies focusing on the extent and attributes of caring and the factors influencing its development among nurses [18], [24], [25]. However, there has been limited research concentrating on the association between nurse caring ability and patient safety outcomes. Understanding this association is crucial for developing strategies that enhance the quality of care and improve patient outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate the extent of nurse caring ability among emergency nurses and its association with patient safety outcomes. By examining the relationship between nurse caring ability and patient safety, this study aimed to contribute to the development of evidence-based interventions and policies that promote caring ability and improve patient safety outcomes in the emergency department.