Microsoft Office

Hi everyone,

This may seem like a bit of an odd topic to bring up on this forum, but I'm currently pre-nursing, taking prereqs required for a BSN program, one of which is a technology elective. This particular class requires Microsoft Office Professional, and I have Microsoft Office for Student/Home. I am desperately trying to avoid spending the $200 on this program, but if I really have to, I guess I have no choice.

So my question is: Do any of you have or use Microsoft Office Professional? Sadly, I may have to spend the extra $200 just because Microsoft doesn't sell Outlook alone for Macs and Office 2011 for Home and Student excludes that specific program.

Is Microsoft Office going to be of any use for me in nursing school?

Thanks in advance.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

I use it often. We have to submit our clinical paperwork & care plans electronically. Plus we have to write papers in APA format. I've used PowerPoint to do my presentations and Excel for my school expenses spreadsheet at tax time.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

If this is not an online course, or if the campus is nearby, check with the school bookstore to see if they have it at discount. Either that, or contact the Dean or someone at the school to ask about it. Sorta like buying a textbook I guess, but I have never spent that much even in grad school on the statitics software

[RunBabyRN]

I had to get it, too, because my assignments wouldn't go through via Pages. It sucked! I do use it all the time, because everything needs to be either in PowerPoint or Word.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

If you have the student/home version you likely just don't have Access (likely not needed), outlook (may not be needed) and publisher (pretty much guarantee not needed). My version of student/home included word, excel & PowerPoint all which I needed. Microsoft One Note is also in student version.

See which programs are required by school. If you have home/student you may not need the other version (usually student version is what is needed) or you may just need a less costly upgrade

[mmcc01]

If you have the student/home version you likely just don't have Access (likely not needed)' date=' outlook (may not be needed) and publisher (pretty much guarantee not needed). My version of student/home included word, excel & PowerPoint all which I needed. Microsoft One Note is also in student version. See which programs are required by school. If you have home/student you may not need the other version (usually student version is what is needed) or you may just need a less costly upgrade[/quote']

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately I had to drop the class because for some odd and infuriating reason I do need Access.

[smoup]

I use Open Office for everything and it's compatible. No one has ever told me I needed to buy Microsoft Office.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately I had to drop the class because for some odd and infuriating reason I do need Access.

I needed Access & Excel to do my Stats homework

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Open Office has a free version of Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Access. All save in the proper format (.doc, .docx, .xls, .ppt, etcetera ).

[IThinkICan100]

I had this same problem two weeks ago! You can buy office university for half the price.

The problem with requiring Access is that very few people really have any skill with it and almost any database task that nursing school would require can be done with Excel's database functions.

Open Office is an outstanding suite of programs.

Personally, I wouldn't buy MS Office Pro if I already had the Home/Student edition UNTIL I actually needed it at which point I would buy it online, download it, install it, and go... wouldn't take more than 30 minutes and could end up saving hundreds of dollars.