“Working Deeply With the Community”: Nurse‐Community Partnership Processes for Climate Justice

Objective To explore how public health nurses (PHNs) and community‐based organizations (CBOs) collaborate to advance climate justice, including their partnership processes, perceived facilitators and barriers, and the values that shape their relational work. Design A qualitative descriptive study using photovoice and semi‐structured interviews, analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis. Sample Eight PHNs and five CBO representatives from six US states participated, forming five PHN‐CBO dyads and three solo PHNs. Measurements Data were collected from August 2022 to February 2023. Participants took photographs to guide discussion during joint photovoice sessions and participated in individual semi‐structured interviews. Transcripts were coded deductively, using the Authentic Partnerships Model, and inductively to identify emergent themes. Results Participants described partnership processes that were grounded in trust, care, and a shared purpose. They emphasized the importance of power‐sharing, capacity building, and mutual respect in sustaining long‐term collaboration. Geographic distance and institutional constraints emerged as barriers to advocacy and connection. Personal values, community ties, and a desire for relational accountability in climate justice work shaped pathways into partnership. Conclusions Findings expand current models of partnership and suggest that PHNs play a critical role in advancing climate justice through reflective, values‐driven collaboration with communities.