AIM: The aim of this study was to describe patients' experience of the perioperative dialogue. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 18 patients, seven men and 11 women aged 20 to 76 years, with whom perioperative dialogues had been held. Data were collected and analysed according to grounded theory. FINDINGS; A core category: 'making time for me'; two main categories: 'comforting me' and 'becoming involved'; with three subcategories each: 'easing my mind by talking with the nurse', 'instilling faith within me', and 'having confidence in the nurse'; and 'being considered a resource', 'establishing a sense of communion', and 'making me feel that I am a human being', emerged from the data. The time with the nurse was experienced as comforting and made the patients feel involved in the perioperative procedures. When the nurse made time to talk with them they felt eased, were made more confident and gained faith in the success of their operation. When the patients were considered to be a resource, they felt that they were unique human beings, and this helped to establish a sense of communion with the nurses. CONCLUSION: The perioperative dialogue allowed the patients time with the nurse and was experienced by them as having a positive effect on the healing process and recovery.