Background: Studies have demonstrated that the theoretical framework of authentic leadership has a beneficial impact on the outcomes of nurses. The effect of leadership on the innovation of staff nurses is significant, highlighting the crucial role that leaders play in facilitating and nurturing the development of innovative practices among staff nurses. The study aimed to assess head nurses’ authentic leadership skills and its relation to nurses' innovative work behaviors.

Research Design: The current study employed a descriptive correlational research design to accomplish its objective.

Sample: The study subjects involved two groups: Group one, all head nurses who worked in Minia University Hospitals (total no 81); Group two representative sample (30%) of all nurses in Minia University Hospitals (total no 315). Two tools were employed for data collection: Tool (I) consisted of part one, socio-demographic data of participants, and part two, authentic leadership questionnaire. Tool (II) consisted of the innovative work behaviors scale.

Results: More than half of the head nurses demonstrated moderate authentic leadership skills, while a similar proportion of nurses perceived their head nurses to possess moderate authentic leadership. Furthermore, over half of the nurses exhibited moderate innovative work behaviors.

Conclusion: no correlation between the head nurses' authentic leadership and nurses' innovative work behaviors.

Recommendations: Establish an educational program specifically designed for head nurses to enhance their authentic leadership skills and foster innovative work behaviors among nurses under their supervision.