Professional leadership and communication in healthcare.
Course: Inter-Professional Leadership and Communication in Healthcare
The first course you will take in your B.S. Nursing, B.S. Health Information Management, or RN-to-M.S. Nursing program at WGU will be unlike any other you'll complete here — and for good reason!
Inter-Professional Leadership and Communication in Healthcare (C820) is all about social support and self-reflection, about getting to know what kind of leader and communicator you are and learning how to use those skills to build success for yourself — in your healthcare career, as a WGU student, and in your life.
Medical errors are currently the third leading cause of death in the United States, and experts point to poor communication as the primary contributing factor.
Communication and emotional intelligence are crucial skills for nurses and healthcare professionals to have — and they aren't easily learned in isolation. That's why this highly rated, one-of-a-kind course is delivered as an instructor-led, group-based online course.
Multiple options to fit your schedule.
You will complete the course over two to four weeks. You will meet eight times via webcam with a faculty member (course mentor) and a group of your fellow WGU College of Health Professions students. Each class will be two hours in length. There is flexibility in the group you choose — your enrollment counselor or mentor will work with you to find one that will fit into your busy schedule.
Sample Calendar - Monthly Schedule
Every other weekend intensive
Sat, Sun: 8-10am & 12-2pm
*Required to attend twice each day
Every Saturday or Sunday
Sat/Sun: 8-10am & 12-2pm
*Required to attend every Saturday or Sunday
4-week option, 2 days a week (9-11 am)
9-11am Tues/Thurs, Mon/Wed, or Wed/Fri
4-week option, 2 days a week (6-8 pm)
6-8pm Tues/Thurs, Mon/Wed, or Wed/Fri
4-week option, 2 days a week (8-10 pm)
8-10pm Tues/Thurs, Mon/Wed, or Wed/Fri
2-week option, 3-4 days a week
Various days, offered once in am and once in pm
*Required to attend twice each day
Every Wednesday option
Wed: 8-10am & 12-2pm
*Required to attend twice each day
Every other Thursday & Tuesday option
Thu, Tue: 8-10am & 12-2pm
*Required to attend twice each day [note: works well with weekends off]
Course At-A-Glance:
- (8) 2-hour Synchronous Sessions on webcam in a Zoom room
- Complete a short pre-work module before each live session
- Submit tasks into Taskstream
- Write a summaritive reflection paper to connect your learning from the course and your goals for the future
- Course completion is about 2 to 4 weeks
- Earns (2) CU's
What you will learn about:
- Working styles for yourself and others
- Interpersonal communication skills and theories
- Concepts and perspectives regarding emotional intelligence
- Leadership skills
- Building a supportive network of peers
- Critical thinking
- Introspection and tools for reflection
- Successful learning strategies
Student experience.
Students who have completed this innovative course have benefited from it tremendously. Here's what just a few of them have said:
Frequently Asked Questions
At what point in my term will I take this course?
This course is a required part of your program and needs to be completed in the first month of your first term.
When will the course be added to my Degree Plan?
The Records Department will add the course to your Degree Plan on or about the 1st day of your first term.
What happens if I miss a live session?
Attendance is a required component for passing this course.
What is required to pass this course?
Attendance to all 8 live sessions and completion of all 13 required tasks will result in a pass for this course.
How much study time is needed for this course?
The bulk of the time students need to commit to the course comes from the 8 live-sessions, which are each (2) hours in length. The pre-work and preparation for each live session typically does not require more than 30-60 minutes.
What do I need to do to ensure that I am prepared for class?
You will need have access to reliable high speed internet and you will need to have a computer that is equipped with a webcam. We encourage students to bring/keep a notebook/journal to each live session. As an alternative, having paper and writing utensils will suffice.
Live sessions? How does this course work?
You'll register for the course, and then attend the 8 live sessions on webcam with an instructor and about 20 of your WGU classmates. Before class each night you will complete a short module with reading and activities that will introduce you to the class curriculum and help you make the most out of class time. During class you will have a chance to participate in several interactive activities to help you learn about leadership, communication, and yourself in a dynamic and engaging way. You’ll use online breakout rooms to get to know other students and to make new connections for yourself about learning and leading. You might be used to learning independently, so this is a rare experience to learn with and through other students as you look for a new direction in your learning and commit to your graduation goals.
Is it really all on Webcam?
It's easy to feel isolated as an online student -- but it's harder to feel alone when you can see other students like you -- face to face. Peer support is a critical element in learning. We know that learning is most effective if we can collaborate with others. Each live session provides students with an opportunity to engage, share perspective, collaborate, and reflect. This often becomes the most important aspect of the course for many students and can be a catalyst for future course engagement. You will get used to looking at yourself on camera in class; give it a try!