Objective To explore the relationships among flow at work, thriving at work and innovative behaviors of nurses, and to analyze the mediating role of thriving at work in the relationship between flow at work and innovative behaviors, so as to provide reference for targeted intervention. Methods A total of 268 nurses in Hefei city were investigated by utilizing the Work-related Flow Inventory (WOLF), Thriving At Work Scale, and Nurse Innovative Behavior Scale. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Pearson′s correlation analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM). Results The scores of flow at work, thriving at work and innovative behaviors were (40.96±8.45), (43.88±9.38) and (28.53±7.35) respectively. The score of flow at work was positively correlated with thriving at work and innovative behaviors (P<0.01 for both)，thriving at work was also positively correlated with innovative behaviors (P<0.01). SEM showed that flow at work was a significant predictor of thriving at work and innovative behaviors, and thriving at work was also a predictor of innovative behaviors (P<0.01 for all). Conclusion Nurses′ flow at work, thriving at work and innovative behaviors are at medium levels, thriving at work partially mediates the relationship between flow at work and innovative behaviors. Enhancing nurses′ flow at work can promote their thriving at work and innovative behaviors.