Introduction: doctoral studies in nursing engage in critical reflection about philosophical traditions inherent to knowledge development. Background: critical realism, hermeneutics, postmodernism and poststructuralism refer to philosophical traditions that are generally less explored in nursing, although they are attracting greater attention. Objective: this paper offers an introductory presentation to these traditions as the authors also reflect upon their contribution to nursing knowledge development. Method: for each tradition, ontological and epistemological properties are presented to provide an overview of their main features. Contributions to nursing knowledge development are then discussed. Results: ontology refers to stratified, fixed and changing, or multiple realities, depending on the philosophical tradition. Likewise, epistemology emphasizes the explanatory power of knowledge, intersubjectivity, or inherent power dynamics. Discussion: the diversity of philosophical traditions represents an asset that can significantly contribute to the advancement of the discipline of nursing. Conclusion: clarification of the philosophical dimensions that underlie knowledge development is essential for doctoral nursing students in the process of developing their research projects and future programs of research.