The Care, Cure, Core Theory of Nursing was developed by Lydia Hall, who used her knowledge of psychiatry and nursing experiences in the Loeb Center as a framework for formulating the theory. It contains three independent but interconnected circles: the core, the care, and the cure.

The core 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.

The cure is the attention given to patients by medical professionals. Hall explains in the model that the cure circle is shared by the nurse with other health professionals, such as physicians or physical therapists. These are the interventions or actions geared toward treating the patient for whatever illness or disease he or she is suffering from.

The care circle addresses the role of nurses, and is focused on performing the task of nurturing patients. This means the "motherly" care provided by nurses, which may include comfort measures, patient instruction, and helping the patient meet his or her needs when help is needed.

In all the circles of the model, the nurse is present. The focus of the nurse's role is on the care circle. This is where she acts as a professional in order to help the patient meet his or her needs and attain a sense of balance.