Lydia Eloise Hall 1906-1969 Core, Care, Cure Theory “Three Cs of Lydia Hall.”

Lydia Eloise Hall 1906-1969

In 1927, she earned her nursing diploma and went

on to complete a Bachelor of Science in Public

Health Nursing in 1937. She earned a Master’s

degree to teach natural sciences in 1942.

 Hall worked as the first director of the Loeb

Center for Nursing. Her nursing experience was in

clinical nursing, nursing education, research, and

in a supervisory role.

(nurturer)

“To look at and listen to self is often too

difficult without the help of a significant

figure _______ who has learned how to

hold up a mirror and sounding board to

invite the behaver to look and listen to

himself. If he accepts the invitation, he will

explore the concerns in his acts and as he

listens to his exploration through the

reflection of the nurse, he may uncover in

sequence his difficulties, the problem area,

his problem, and eventually the threat

which is dictating his out-of-control

behavior.”

Individual

The individual human who is 16 years of

age or older and past the acute stage of

long-term illness is the focus of nursing

care in Hall’s work. The source of energy

and motivation for healing is the

individual care recipient, not the health

care provider. Hall emphasizes the

importance of the individual as unique,

capable of growth and learning, and

requiring a total person approach.

Health

Health can be inferred to be a

state of self-awareness with a

conscious selection of

behaviors that are optimal for

that individual. Hall stresses

the need to help the person

explore the meaning of his or

her behavior to identify and

overcome problems through

developing self-identity and

maturity.

Society and Environment

The concept of society or environment is dealt with in relation to the

individual. Hall is credited with developing the concept of Loeb Center

because she assumed that the hospital environment during the treatment of

acute illness creates a difficult psychological experience for the ill individual.

Loeb Center focuses on providing an environment that is conducive to self-

development. In such a setting, the focus of the action of the nurses is the

individual, so that any actions taken in relation to society or environment are

for the purpose of assisting the individual in attaining a personal goal.

Nursing

Nursing is identified as consisting of participation in the care, core, and cure

aspects of patient care.

the core

the care

the cure

Lydia Hall’s theory has three

components which are

represented by three

independent but

interconnected circles.

The Care Circle

defines the primary role of a professional nurse such as

providing bodily care for the patient and helping the patient complete

such basic daily biological functions as eating, bathing, elimination, and

dressing. When providing this care, the nurse’s goal is the comfort of

the patient.

Moreover, the role of the nurse also includes educating patients and

helping a patient meet any needs he or she is unable to meet alone.

This presents the nurse and patient with an opportunity for closeness.

As closeness develops, the patient can share and explore feelings with

the nurse.

Core Circle

according to Hall’s theory, is the patient receiving nursing care. The

core has goals set by him or herself rather than by any other person and

behaves according to his or her feelings and values. This involves the therapeutic

use of self and is shared with other members of the health team.

Reflective technique is used by the professional nurse in a way the he or she

acts as a mirror to the patient to help the latter explore his or her own feelings

regarding his or her current health status and related potential changes in

lifestyle.

Motivations are discovered through the process of bringing into awareness the

feelings being experienced. With this awareness, the patient is now able to

make conscious decisions based on understood and accepted feelings and

motivation.

Reflective technique

used by the professional nurse in a way the he or she

acts as a mirror to the patient to help the latter explore his or her own feelings

regarding his or her current health status and related potential changes in

lifestyle.

Motivations

are discovered through the process of bringing into awareness the

feelings being experienced. With this awareness, the patient is now able to

make conscious decisions based on understood and accepted feelings and

motivation.

Cure Circle

as explained in this theory is the

aspect of nursing which involves the

administration of medications and treatments.

Hall explains in the model that the cure circle

is shared by the nurse with other health

professionals, such as physicians or physical

therapists.

Strengthsa

Lydia Hall’s model appears to be completely and simply logical. Her work may be viewed as the philosophy of

nursing.

• The three Cs (care, core and cure) in this theory were unique. In all the circles of the model, the nurse is

present, although focus of the nurse’s role is on the

care circle

Weaknesses

Lydia Hall’s model is considered to be plain and simple in its presentation. However, the receptiveness and resilience necessary for its utilization and function may not be so simple for nurses whose personality, educational preparation, and experience have not prepared them to function with minimal structure. This and the self-imposed age and illness requirements limit the generalizability.

• The age requirement for the application of her theory which is 16 years of age and above limits the theory since it cannot be disregarded that nurses are faced with pediatric clients every now and then.

• The concept of a patient aggregate such as having families and communities as the focus of nursing practice was not tackled. It is purely on the individual himself. Although, the role of the family or the community within the patient’s environment was modestly discussed.

Conclusion

Lydia Hall used her knowledge of psychiatry and nursing experiences in the Loeb Center as a framework for formulating the Care, Core and Cure Theory. Her model contains three independent but interconnected circles. The three circles are: the core, the care, and the cure.

• The core is the patient, the cure refers to the medical and nursing

interventions and the care is the nurturing provided by nurses. Nursing functions in all three of the circles but shares them to different degrees with other disciplines.

• Even though Hall confined her concepts for patients with the age of 16 years and above, the concepts of care, core and cure can still be applied to every age group but again, none was specified.

• This theory puts emphasis on the importance of the total patient rather than looking at one part or aspect. There is also emphasis put on all three aspects of the theory, the three Cs, functioning together.

• And for a nurse to successfully apply Hall’s theory, the individual must pass an acute stage of illness. In this theory, no nursing contact with healthy

individuals, families, or communities, contradicts the concept of health maintenance and disease prevention.