D235 Interprofessional Communication and Leadership in Healthcare is the opening course in Western Governors University's B.S. Nursing (RN to BSN), worth two competency units.
Despite its title, WGU's program guide describes a student success course: it prepares you for the online environment at WGU and beyond, through social support and self-reflective awareness.
Students complete several individual assignments reflecting on where they are and where they want to be, in a four-part intensive learning experience. There are no prerequisites.
For working nurses returning to study, the challenge is usually academic writing and time management rather than content. This course is the place to build those habits.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Western Governors University (WGU) |
| Course code | D235 |
| Program | B.S. Nursing (RN to BSN) |
| Competency units | 2 |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Format | Four-part intensive learning experience with individual reflective assignments |
What D235 Covers
| Competency (summarized) | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Apply mindfulness to promote self-discovery | Reflecting honestly on strengths, stresses and goals |
| Apply mindsets, working styles and energy dynamics | Understanding how you work best and planning study around it |
| Communicate effectively in oral and written format | Clear, professional writing and speaking |
| Use communication strategies to foster a peer community | Supporting and learning from fellow students |
Key Concepts Explained
Mindset and Working Style
A growth mindset treats ability as something developed through effort and feedback. Working style covers when and how you focus best. Knowing both helps you build a realistic study plan around shifts and family life.
Example: A night-shift nurse notices she reads poorly after shifts but writes well on days off. Her plan: short reading sessions before shifts, writing blocks on her first day off, and a weekly check-in with a study partner. The reflection explains the pattern, the plan and how she will judge whether it works.
Professional Written Communication
BSN coursework expects clear academic prose, usually in APA style. That means a clear purpose, organized paragraphs, professional tone and correct citation of sources.
Interprofessional Communication
Nurses already use structured tools such as SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation). The same clarity and structure help in academic and team writing.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Task type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Self-reflection | Self-awareness and goals | Use specific examples and end with an action plan |
| Study planning | Working style and time use | Map your real week, then fit study into it |
| Communication task | Oral or written clarity | Purpose first, short paragraphs, professional tone |
| Peer community activity | Supportive communication | Respond specifically to what peers share |
Making the Shift to Academic Writing
Many RNs write excellent clinical notes but find academic papers unfamiliar. The habits that help most:
- State the purpose of the paper in the first paragraph.
- Give each paragraph one main idea and a topic sentence.
- Use first person only where the task invites reflection.
- Cite any source you draw on, in the style your program requires.
- Read the task instructions and rubric before drafting, and again before submitting.
Planning Your Time as a Working Nurse
WGU's competency-based model lets you move through a course once you can show competency, which suits nurses with experience but demands self-discipline. D235's focus on working styles and energy is a chance to build a plan you can keep for the whole degree.
- Map a typical fortnight, including shifts, sleep and family time, before deciding when to study.
- Match tasks to energy: reading or video on tired days, writing on fresher ones.
- Set weekly targets you can measure, such as one section drafted.
- Agree check-ins with your instructor or mentor and keep them.
Writing about this plan honestly, including what has not worked before, often makes a stronger reflection than an idealized schedule.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Treating reflection as optional fluff. It is assessed; specific, honest examples matter.
- Unrealistic study plans. Plan around actual shifts and commitments.
- Informal tone. Reflective does not mean casual.
- Going it alone. The peer community competency rewards genuine engagement.
Study Tips for D235
- Use this course to set up routines you will keep for the whole program.
- Save a personal APA template with title page and headings ready.
- Keep a short journal of what is working in your study plan.
- Meet with your instructor early to agree your course plan, as the program guide recommends.
How We Help with D235
Send the task instructions and your draft or notes. A nursing writing tutor helps you organize your ideas, improve structure and tone, and check APA formatting, while keeping the reflection in your own words. See our nursing academic writing tips for more.
GradeEssays is independent of Western Governors University. Reflections must describe your own experience; we coach and edit, and you submit your own work under WGU's academic integrity policy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The program guide describes it as a student success course focused on mindfulness, mindsets, communication and peer community, preparing you for online study at WGU.
Two, in the B.S. Nursing (RN to BSN) program guide.
No. It is the first course in the standard path after advanced standing for the RN license.
Follow your task instructions. APA style is widely used across WGU nursing coursework, so it is worth learning early.
Use specific, real examples, explain what you learned, and finish with a practical action plan.
No. We help you plan, give feedback and edit, but your reflections must be your own.