Exam Info

Sources of information

When I started as a nurse, I usually subscribed to at least 2 journals. That was in the early 1980s, back when the internet was just a gleam in Bill Gates' eyes. I haven't subscribed to a journal for many years.

One of the reasons I let the subscriptions drop is that the information wasn't focused enough on what I'm doing. I have a business where I provide insurance exams, and while I still maintain some interest in hospital-based nursing, it's not important enough for me to spend time on a journal for it.

(I won't say "spend money." One of the things most adults learn is that the cost of reading time is far more valuable than the cost of the subscription. Most of these journals -- the ones I was reading -- ran from $20 to $30 a year. That's pocket change. I value my time at around $50 an hour. If I spend an hour reading a journal, I've just "spent" $50. That's something we have to keep in mind when reading).

The bigger reason I don't get journals any more is that the internet provides far better resources for my work. I can search for very specialized information that the journals just can't provide. I'm especially using other bloggers as sources. What we need to do when reading blogs (and other sites) is that the site doesn't have to specifically be for insurance examiners. Bloggers dealing with other business aspects can be invaluable to us, and provide insights we might not otherwise see.

posted by Jim Huffman @ 1:31 PM