"The measure of my days" critiqued by the oldest old

The practice of nursing begins by listening to individual stories--to personal interpretations. This project elicited personal interpretations of aging. The biographical book by Florida Scott-Maxwell, A Measure of My Days, was critiqued by eight men and women over the age of 85. Each person was visited two to three times. Discussions during the visits were audiotaped and transcribed. Transcriptions were reviewed by the participant and researcher together to create critiques. Excerpts of the critiques presented are a result of each participant's interpretation of the text and are written in the participant's words. These individual interpretations of The Measure of My Days are just that, individual interpretations. Left in story form, they serve a different purpose than themes or categories developed to illuminate or define. Thematizing or categorizing critiques serves to describe an aggregate reaction. While useful, aggregate reactions may be of limited use for nurses working with any single individual.