This study aims at discussing and stimulating reflections on the need of an interdisciplinary dialogue when the object of work is the health-illness-care process. The authors discuss the definition of Nursing by considering its essence, care, its history and practice. Following, considerations about inter- and trans-disciplinary studies on collective health are presented and the authors conclude with a proposal of basing care on the theory of communicative action developed by Jürgen Habermas.
health care; nursing care; health; disease; public health