The objective of the research was to establish what kind of relationship exists between emotional intelligence (EI) and effective leadership in heads of division of human resources and section supervisors in 4th level hospitals in the state of Zulia.The study was described as quantitative with a nonexperimental correlational design.Two questionnaires were used to determine existing characteristics of effective leadership and emotional intelligence, which showed a high degree of reliability using Pearson's statistical coefficient.A considerable positive correlation (0.79) between variables was determined.As a consequence, one characteristic to strengthen is EI for effective leadership.