The purpose of this research study is to determine the "Perception of the Surgical Patient and the guidance provided by the Nurse" from the patient's experience, emotions, based on the Theory of Transitions by Afaf Ibrahim Meléis.

Method: This is a qualitative study with an interpretive phenomenological design. Seven patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy at Hospital San Miguel Arcángel, located in the district of San Miguelito, Panama City, participated in this study. The study was carried out through observation, field notes, and in-depth semi-structured interviews, where the patients expressed their experience and perception of the nurses' guidance. Initial coding and Axial coding were used for data analysis. The initial coding was based on the data from the incident-by-incident method. Each action was observed, it written using gerunds, and elaborated using In Vivo Coding. The Axial Coding consisted of obtaining subcategories and regrouping them to establish the categories.

Results: As a result, nine categories were established, which are: education and knowledge, learning, surgical care, a family commitment to the surgical patient, the evolution of the patient's surgical condition, emotional condition, communication, surgical scenario, empathy.