​Ethical leadership actions act as a trigger in reducing the negative workplace consequences on nurses’ behaviors. In the absence of ethical leadership, a toxic work environment may emerge, fostering ostracism and increasing the prevalence of counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs). This study investigated the effects and relationships of nursing leaders’ ethical leadership on workplace ostracism (WPO) and nurses’ CWBs and the impact of WPO on nurses’ CWBs, as perceived by registered nurses working in hospitals. To reach a more diverse population of nurses, a quantitative transverse and correlation study was implemented using an online survey. Data were collected utilizing validated tools. A convenient sample of 408 nurses working in eight hospitals was granted. The overall means of the variables indicated that the perceived nursing leaders’ ethical leadership was high, with a medium level of WPO and a low level of nurses’ CWBs. There was a moderate positive link between WPO and CWBs, while ethical leadership showed a slight negative relationship with CWBs and no connection to WPO. Interestingly, gender influenced how ethical leadership was perceived, and age played a role in WPO. CWBs were notably influenced by ethical leadership, WPO, and education, with these factors accounting for 48.10% of the variance. To effectively manage nurses’ CWBs, it is crucial to focus on the integrity of ethical nursing leaders, the management of WPO, and the education of nurses. Nursing leaders should prioritize the needs of their teams over personal interests and ensure their actions reflect their stated values. To effectively minimize CWBs, it is important to establish and communicate clear guidelines that define these behaviors among nurses.​​