The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study (Benner 1994) was to understand the significance of surgical nurses’ experience of carrying out clinical assessments in a context of implementing best practice guidelines. The study was conducted at an affiliated university hospital (Quebec, Canada) with nine registered nurses. Data were collected by observing nursing assessments and through semi-structured individual interviews. The results revealed four subthemes which, combined, constitute this main theme. In a context of implementing best practices guidelines in nursing care, clinical assessment carried out by surgical nurses is an implicit, tactful, adapted, and ongoing process, facilitated by the nurse’s commitment to knowing the patient and his/her history and future in order to promote positive outcomes.