A questionnaire survey was done to examine the associations between the dimensions of safety climate and the nurses' motivation toward patient safety. Excluding nursing directors, a total of 371 full-time female Japanese nurses (registered nurses and licensed practical nurses) working in 6 hospitals of fewer than 250 beds were analyzed. The average age was 35.6 yr (range, 20-69). For the safety climate, factor analysis (the principal factor method and promax rotation) was performed, and factors with an eigenvalue of>or=1 were extracted. Seven dimensions were extracted by factor analysis as follows: "Opportunities for nursing education", "Reporting", "Fatigue reduction", "Superiors' attitudes", "Nursing conditions", "Communications with physicians", and "Relationships among nurses". We subsequently examined the associations between the dimensions of the safety climate and "Nurses' motivation to prevent mistakes". Multiple linear regression analysis showed that "Nurses' motivation to prevent mistakes" was significantly associated with "Reporting", "Nursing conditions", and "Communications with physicians". It is necessary to improve the reporting system in hospitals. It is also necessary to improve on reducing improper communications with physicians. And appropriate nursing conditions must be actualized and maintained.