Background:

Enteral feeding (EF) is the preferred method of feeding for high-risk neonates. So, major attention should be directed to nurses' perception and bedside observation concerning EF.

Aim:

This study aimed to determine nurses’ perception and bedside observation concerning EF at NICU.

Design:

Descriptive research design was utilized.

Setting:

This study was carried out at NICU in Assiut University Children Hospital.

Subjects:

A convenience sampling of 60 nurses who had clinical experience at least three months in NICU was included.

Tools:

Two tools were used to collect necessary data which included; personal characteristics questionnaire for nurses (tool 1) and enteral feeding questionnaire (tool 2).

Results:

48.33% of the studied nurses had high level of perception and more than half (58.33%) of them had high level of practice concerning enteral feeding, 100 % of the studied nurses who aged 35 years and more and the majority of them who had 10 years and more of experiences had high level of perception and practice (85.2 and 96% respectively).

Conclusion:

About half of the studied nurses had high level of perception and more than half of them had high level of practice concerning enteral feeding. More experienced, attendance training programs and aged nurses had high level of enteral feeding perception and practice.

Recommendations:

Provision of continuing educational programs on regular basis is suggested in order to refresh and updated nurses' perception and practice.