Abstract Healthcare work is guided by care ethics, and any technological changes, including the use of robots and artificial intelligence (AI), must comply with existing norms, values and work practices. By bridging technological literacy and AI ethics, this study provides a nuanced definition and an integrative conceptualization of care robot literacy (CRL) for contemporary care work. Robotized care tasks require new orientation and qualifications on the part of employees. CRL is considered as one of these new demands, which requires practitioners to have the resources, skills and understanding necessary to work with robots. This study builds on sociotechnical approach of literacy by highlighting a dynamic relationship of care robotization in which successful human–technology interaction relies on exchanges between the technological and the social. Our findings from directed content analysis and theoretical synthesis of in-demand technological literacy and AI ethics in care work emphasize competencies and situational awareness regarding both using the robot and communicating about the care robot. The initial conceptualization of CRL provides a conceptual framework for future studies, implementation and product development of care robots, drastically differing from studying, implementing and developing robots in general. In searching for technologically sound and ethically compliant solutions, the study advocates for the future significance of context-specific CRL as valuable addition to the terminology of ethical AI in healthcare.