A large percentage of long-term care residents receive enteral feedings. A study was conducted to determine the extent to which residents were receiving amounts prescribed by physicians and enteral feeding contributions toward residents' nutritional needs. During a three week period, 48 hours each week, a case series was generated from 64 residents who were enterally fed in eleven long-term care facilities. Results showed that only residents who received intermittent feedings received 100% of their prescribed diet order each day. The number of hours per day an enteral feeding was stopped ranged from 0 hours to 8.6 hours. About two thirds (68%) of the residents received 90% or more of their prescribed order. Seven percent of the residents received 77% or less of the prescribed amount. Eighty-seven percent of the residents' actual intake was 100% or more of their basal energy expenditure (BEE), while 7% received 80% or less than their calculated BEE. Findings suggest that dietitians and nurses in long-term care should more closely monitor enteral intakes to assure both compliance with physician orders and fulfillment of residents' nutritional needs.