Epistemology of nursing care: a reflection on its foundations.

Objective:: to reflect on nursing care and its epistemology from its historical, theoretical, philosophical, spiritual dimensions and as a social practice.

Method:: discussions originated in the discipline "Epistemology of caring", from the graduate nursing program of the School of Nursing, Federal University of Minas Gerais, and in critical analysis of nursing literature together with the professional practice of the authors.

Results:: we identified the necessity of developing a critical conscience on health care provision, research, and teaching, as well as on challenges in maintaining high standards of working interpersonal relationships, which has a profound impact on population health.

Conclusion:: we suggest the rescue of integrality, humanization, unity, and spirituality in researches and practices of individual, familiar, and community care, as an advance in incorporating epistemology of caring in nursing.