Background and Aim: The issue of ethical conflicts in professional practice and leadership styles has garnered increasing attention within health-related professions. The present study aims to determine the relationship between ethical conflicts and various leadership styles among nurses.

Materials & Methods: This research employed a descriptive-correlational methodology. The study population consisted of all nursing staff (N = 109) from the Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sardasht city, who were selected through a census sampling method. Data were collected using three questionnaires: a demographic characteristics questionnaire, the Ethical Conflict Questionnaire by Pagarlous Falco, and the Leadership Styles Questionnaire by Baird and Metzka. Hypotheses were tested using Pearson correlation and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).

Results: A significant inverse relationship was found between ethical conflicts and relational leadership styles among nurses. Conversely, a significant direct relationship was identified between ethical conflicts and bureaucratic leadership styles among nurses (P = 0.001).

Conclusion: Creating conditions that reduce ethical conflicts among nurses may facilitate the adoption of more appropriate leadership styles in hospitals, potentially enhancing quality of care and increasing efficiency within healthcare settings.