A source of strength--nurses' perspectives of the perioperative dialogue.

Aim: To describe nurse anaesthetists' and theatre nurses' experiences of working with the perioperative dialogue.

Background: A new way of working in the perioperative context is the 'perioperative dialogue model', which is the meeting between the nurse and the patient before, during and after a patient's surgery.

Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 nurses, trained in working with the perioperative dialogue. Data were analysed according to grounded theory.

Findings: One core category, 'source of strength', and two main categories, 'walking together' and 'creating a caring relation', were defined. These represented factors in developing nurses' work and professional competence. The nurses became more committed to their work when they came to know the person beyond the character of the patient.

Conclusions: The perioperative dialogue is a source of strength to the nurses. It is necessary that the organization supports nurses in this new way of working.