In palliative care, tailoring nutrition to patients’ needs and life expectancy is vital for supporting essential bodily functions and overall well-being. This study examined nurses’ understanding of enteral nutrition practices and their perceptions of the quality of nutritional care provided in palliative care settings. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 25 palliative care units in Izmir, Türkiye, from June to September 2022. The sample included 205 nurses. Data collection tools comprised a Personal Information Form, an Enteral Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire, and the Nurses’ Perceived Nutrition Care Quality Assessment Scale. The study followed the STROBE guidelines. The majority of nurses were female (94.6%) and held bachelor’s degrees (78.5%). Median scores were 15 (range 2–27) for enteral nutrition knowledge and 36 (range 9–45) for perceived care quality. Nurses who had received enteral nutrition training scored significantly higher (p < .001), while having a palliative care certificate did not influence knowledge levels (p = .846). Those without knowledge in nutrition counseling reported lower perceptions of care quality (p = .001). Knowledge scores were positively associated with the frequency of tube feeding procedures (r = .173, p = .013), but not with years of professional experience (p = .126) or duration in palliative care (p = .839). Nurses in palliative care generally perceive nutritional care quality as satisfactory, but their knowledge of enteral nutrition is moderate. Critical gaps were identified in areas such as fluid management, jejunostomy tube maintenance, and enteral medication administration, underscoring the need for targeted, practical educational programs to enhance nursing competencies in enteral nutrition.
