Empathetic Partnership: An Interdisciplinary Framework for Primary Care Practice

This article introduces Empathetic Partnership, an interdisciplinary framework for primary care practice in the United States. The framework provides a practice framework for primary care nurse practitioners to create effective and therapeutic partnerships with patients. Empathetic Partnership uses women who have sex with women as an exemplar of a marginalized population. Empathetic Partnership is influenced by the lead author's previous work; the cultural safety work of Dr Irihapeti Ramsden, a nurse; and sociologist Dr Brené Brown. The framework consists of 6 key elements: reflection, environment, language, knowledge, partnership, and empathy.