title: Epistemology of nursing care: a reflection on its foundations.
abstract: to reflect on nursing care and its epistemology from its historical, theoretical, philosophical, spiritual dimensions and as a social practice.
  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.
  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.
  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.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Enfermagem, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem. Belo Horizonte-MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Márcia Eller Miranda
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Salviano
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Enfermagem, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem. Belo Horizonte-MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Prince Daiane Felizardo Silva
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Enfermagem, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem. Belo Horizonte-MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Mariane Andreza de
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Paula
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Enfermagem, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem. Belo Horizonte-MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carolina Santiago
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Enfermagem, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem. Belo Horizonte-MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Susiane Sucasas
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Frison
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Enfermagem, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem. Belo Horizonte-MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Mariana Almeida
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Enfermagem, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem. Belo Horizonte-MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Kleyde Ventura
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Enfermagem, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem. Belo Horizonte-MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Eline Lima
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Borges
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D009729:Nursing