ABSTRACT Aim To examine nurses' perceptions of decent work (defined by the ILO as safe, fair and socially recognised employment) and its relationship with work‐related flow and psychological capital. Design A cross‐sectional survey design. Methods In 2023, we used convenient sampling to select 1930 nurses from 20 high‐grade A hospitals. A general data questionnaire, decent work perception scale (DWPS), work‐related flow inventory (WOLF) and psychological capital scale (PCQ) were used for the survey. Results The total score of the decent work perception scale of 1930 nurses was 49.10 ± 6.18, indicating a low perception of decent work. The total score of the work‐related flow inventory was 108.68 ± 18.5, suggesting a moderate level of work‐related flow, and the total score of the psychological capital scale was 84.64 ± 14.52, indicating a moderate level of psychological capital. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that nurses' perceptions of decent work were positively correlated with work‐related flow ( r = 0.429, p < 0.001) and psychological capital ( r = 0.385, p < 0.001). The multilevel regression analysis showed age, education, workplace violence, income and regional economy significantly influenced decent work perception ( p < 0.01). Work‐related flow ( β = 0.401) and psychological capital ( β = 0.350) remained strong predictors after adjustments ( p < 0.001). Institutional differences explained 18.8% of variance (ICC = 0.188). Conclusion Nurse's decent work perception was at a low level. Decent work perception positively correlated with work‐related flow and psychological capital among nurses. Implications for the Profession Hospitals should enhance organisational support, ensure fair compensation and improve working conditions through shared governance and well‐being initiatives. Strengthening nurses' decision‐making participation, professional pride and psychological resilience is crucial. While systemic challenges exist, incremental reforms like nurse‐led task forces and pilot programmes can foster sustainable improvements. Reporting Method A STROBE checklist. Patient or Public Contribution No patient or public contribution.