The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of preoperative teaching as a nursing intervention on the emotional status of the patients prior to surgery. The method of this study was Nonequivalent Control Group Non-Synchronize Design. The data were selected from H universuty hospital in Seoul, and they consisted of an experimental group-30patients, and a control group-30 patients. The questionnaire consisted of 28 Preoperative Stress Inventory(Kang, 1998), and 16 State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(Spielberger, 1972). The collected data were analized by means of frequency, percentage, x2 test, t-test and paired t-test with SPSS WIN. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The level of stress prior to surgery was significantly lower for the preoperative teaching group than for the control group(t=2.61, p< .01). 2. The level of anxiety prior to surgery was not significantly lower for the preoperative teaching group than for the control group. 3. The difference level of the anxiety level the prior to surgery was significantly higher for the preoperative teaching group than for the control group(t=2.82, p< .01). In conclusion, preoperative teaching is a beneficial nursing intervention that has a positive effect on the stress and anxiety of patients prior to surgery. Therefore it is recommended to use the preoperative teaching program as a nursing intervention for patients prior to surgery.