Objective To compare the differences in evaluating readiness for hospital discharge between nurses and colorectal cancer (CRC) patients following enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Patient-reported Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS) and nurse-reported RHDS were delivered to 130 CRC patients and 40 nurses respectively. All patients were followed ERAS pathway during perioperative periods. The differences were compared in evaluating readiness for hospital discharge between nurses and CRC patients. Results This study investigated 130 CRC patients and 40 responsible nurses. The scores of RHDS from nurses and patients were 162.86±27.95 and 149.86±33.65 respectively. When evaluating whether patients were ready to go home after discharge, the consistency between nurses’ results and patients’ results was weak（κ=0.365, P<0.001）. Items in patients’ RHDS scoring ranking from high to low were expected support, coping ability, knowledge, and personal status. Items in nurses’ RHDS scoring ranking from high to low were expected support, knowledge, coping ability, and personal status. Besides the " social support” dimension, the scores of other 3 dimensions from nurses were significantly higher than those from patients (P<0.05). Conclusion There is a gap between the assessment of RHDS from nurses and patients, nurses overestimated patients’ discharge readiness level.