Objective: To explore application of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in colorectal cancer. Methods: A total of 150 patients with colorectal cancer who were treated in the hospital from March 2018 to April 2019 were enrolled. They were divided into the control group and the observation group according to random number table method. The control group was given routine perioperative nursing, while observation group was given ERAS nursing. Both groups were followed up till 30 days after surgery. The nutrition status, inflammatory factor levels and immune levels of both groups were detected. The postoperative recovery and incidence of severe complications were statistically analyzed. Results: At 7 days after operation, levels of hemoglobin, prealbumin, albumin and transferrin in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). At 7 days after operation, levels of interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein in observation group were lower than those in the control group. At 7 days after operation, levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The postoperative recovery time in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in conditions of severe complications between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: The application of ERAS in nursing for colorectal cancer can shorten postoperative recovery time, without increasing incidence of postoperative complications.