Indicates that nurses' voices are not heeded in national policy and health care decisions, even though nurses know as much about cost/quality relationships as any health care professionals. (Author)

Critiques of conventional models for evaluating the utility of organizational human resource policies. Questions the implicit assumption that utilities are invariant across changing labor market conditions, and concludes that omission of these considerations overstates the likely utility of the programs being evaluated. (TE)

Describes a study that compared the coverage of the nursing profession, subject heading specificity, and ease of retrieval of the MEDLINE and Nursing & Allied Health (CINAHL) online databases. The strengths and weaknesses of each database are discussed and hints for searching on both databases are provided. (four references) (CLB)

Compares three methods of data entry available to database producers--keyboarding, optical scanners, and electronic input--in terms of turnaround time, accuracy, and cost. It is concluded that, although the trend is toward electronic submission, all three methods will remain as viable options in the foreseeable future. (CLB)

Describes the benefits of using DIALOG's OneSearch in conjunction with DIALINDEX when searching online databases. Interdisciplinary searching on multiple databases is discussed, time and cost comparisons are briefly addressed, and steps involved in a simple search and in a complex search are detailed. (LRW)

A guide to environmental scanning looks at its rationale and relationship to strategic planning, and outlines three administrative approaches: establishment of a committee, sponsoring a scanning conference or event, and assigning the task to the institutional research or planning office. (MSE)

Provides an overview of several current satellites-based instructional systems and assesses their potential role in rural education. Highlights include the Oklahoma Arts and Sciences Teleconferencing Service (ASTS); the Texas Interactive Instructional Network (TI-IN); Washington's Satellite Telecommunications Educational Programming (STEP);…

Describes new CD-ROM products, services, software and data enhancements, and products with unique or interesting features. The discussion covers the extent of CD-ROM use in libraries; issues relating to networking, budgeting, evaluation, training and licensing; and factors to consider when selecting products or services. A directory of producers…

Reports the results of a survey of 38 librarians with expertise in training CD-ROM users that examined why and how patrons use CD-ROM, what end-users need to know about searching CD-ROM, and preferred teaching methods. The effects of training CD-ROM users on reference services and staff are also discussed. (CLB)

Examines the dilemmas of participation in resource sharing library networks and proposes solutions based on shifting inducements toward contribution by remunerating the contributing library for the unit cost of original cataloging. A "contribution pricing" model recently announced by OCLC is also evaluated as a possible solution. (21…

Investigates the value of applying principles derived from simulated annealing to clustering tuples in database design, and compares this technique with a graph-collapsing clustering method. It is concluded that, while the new method does give superior results, the expense involved in algorithm run time is prohibitive. (24 references) (CLB)

Describes problems encountered during early attempts at library automation in China, including the slow development of telecommunications systems and the high cost of international online retrieval. The successful use of imported databases on CD-ROM to overcome these problems is discussed, focusing on applications in library technical services and…

Describes the development and use of a policy model and algorithm for allocating continuing education (CE) resources in a large national health system. The algorithm uses a two-factor model, basing facility CE allocations on the amount of CE need and price differences in accessing CE sources. (Author/JOW)

Two surveys of 120 North American medical schools obtained 63 responses in 1986 and 58 in 1988, finding that the number and types of continuing medical education (CME) programs, enrollments, and fees increased; self-study offerings increased; and documentation of resource allocation and the cost effectiveness of various CME methods assumed greater…

Thirty-five training managers in central Ohio were interviewed about their use of cost-benefit analysis. Incentives for its use are justifying and marketing training programs, acquiring resources, setting priorities, and increasing management support. Disadvantages include difficulty of quantifying training effects, subjectivity, cost, and…