WGU D260 TASK 2: REFLECTION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT CAPSTONE 2025/2026
College of Health Professions, Western Governors
University
,XSM1 –TASK 2: REFLECTION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT CAPSTONE -D260
A. Reflect on what you have learned through your education and professional practice
experience by doing the following:
1. Describe your experience in the BSHIM program, including the following:
Before I applied to the BSHIM program, I had no prior knowledge about HIM, so I was
very apprehensive about venturing into the program. Unlike the sciences, such as anatomy and
physiology or pathophysiology, the health information management program seems abstract to
me, given concerns about how to succeed in the program. However, my first course, professional
leadership and communication in healthcare changed my perspective positively, and I became
interested and eager to learn more about the program.
As an HIM student, I have learned and gained skills to become integral to daily operations and
manage electronic health records, especially during the PPE 1. Working on the EHR to perform
queries has changed my perspective of the program. I have learned how to analyze health data
structure, content, standards, clinical classification systems, and reimbursement methodologies
such as
• Quality management and performance improvement strategies used in healthcare
• Examine driving factors influencing healthcare organizations, delivery systems,
healthcare privacy, confidentiality, and legal and ethical issues
• Evaluate emerging applications in health informatics
• Evaluate emerging healthcare trends in information and communication technology,
information systems, and data security
, • I am a traditional learner; by that, I mean the conventional setting of in-person learning
and physically interacting with fellow students, seeing your instructors, asking questions
directly, and getting answers almost immediately from them. Nevertheless, my
experience in online education does not take away the beauty or joy of learning because I
still received the same level of information or the necessary education as those offered in
class, but for the lack of physical interaction with friends and professors.
* HIM areas that interest me are Data Analytics, Information Governance, and Informatics.
2. Discuss a situation from your education or professional practice experience when you
had to use critical thinking and decision-making.
During this program, I was confronted with an issue that warranted critical thinking and
decision-making. I was taking a particular course and had failed the exam several times. Before
this time, I had never failed any exam in all of the classes I had taken. I blamed myself for the
failure and decided to quit the program. On the other hand, I also thought I wasn’t given enough
information or help from the instructor to succeed in the exam. I decided to request a change of
instructor instead of quitting the program because I have completed 83% of the coursework. The
decision was difficult because I did not want to offend my instructor or drop out of the program,
but I wanted to see if another instructor could take me there. So, I requested the change and
quickly passed the course with the new instructor's help.
a. Discuss how you plan to apply your experience from part A2 in future situations.
I plan to be proactive in, for example, all endeavors. I will only consider quitting a project or
program after exploring all available options. I will correctly assess a situation and come up with
a logical resolution. Initiate the change early enough rather than reacting to events that follow.
HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT CAPSTONE 2025/2026
College of Health Professions, Western Governors
University
,XSM1 –TASK 2: REFLECTION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT CAPSTONE -D260
A. Reflect on what you have learned through your education and professional practice
experience by doing the following:
1. Describe your experience in the BSHIM program, including the following:
Before I applied to the BSHIM program, I had no prior knowledge about HIM, so I was
very apprehensive about venturing into the program. Unlike the sciences, such as anatomy and
physiology or pathophysiology, the health information management program seems abstract to
me, given concerns about how to succeed in the program. However, my first course, professional
leadership and communication in healthcare changed my perspective positively, and I became
interested and eager to learn more about the program.
As an HIM student, I have learned and gained skills to become integral to daily operations and
manage electronic health records, especially during the PPE 1. Working on the EHR to perform
queries has changed my perspective of the program. I have learned how to analyze health data
structure, content, standards, clinical classification systems, and reimbursement methodologies
such as
• Quality management and performance improvement strategies used in healthcare
• Examine driving factors influencing healthcare organizations, delivery systems,
healthcare privacy, confidentiality, and legal and ethical issues
• Evaluate emerging applications in health informatics
• Evaluate emerging healthcare trends in information and communication technology,
information systems, and data security
, • I am a traditional learner; by that, I mean the conventional setting of in-person learning
and physically interacting with fellow students, seeing your instructors, asking questions
directly, and getting answers almost immediately from them. Nevertheless, my
experience in online education does not take away the beauty or joy of learning because I
still received the same level of information or the necessary education as those offered in
class, but for the lack of physical interaction with friends and professors.
* HIM areas that interest me are Data Analytics, Information Governance, and Informatics.
2. Discuss a situation from your education or professional practice experience when you
had to use critical thinking and decision-making.
During this program, I was confronted with an issue that warranted critical thinking and
decision-making. I was taking a particular course and had failed the exam several times. Before
this time, I had never failed any exam in all of the classes I had taken. I blamed myself for the
failure and decided to quit the program. On the other hand, I also thought I wasn’t given enough
information or help from the instructor to succeed in the exam. I decided to request a change of
instructor instead of quitting the program because I have completed 83% of the coursework. The
decision was difficult because I did not want to offend my instructor or drop out of the program,
but I wanted to see if another instructor could take me there. So, I requested the change and
quickly passed the course with the new instructor's help.
a. Discuss how you plan to apply your experience from part A2 in future situations.
I plan to be proactive in, for example, all endeavors. I will only consider quitting a project or
program after exploring all available options. I will correctly assess a situation and come up with
a logical resolution. Initiate the change early enough rather than reacting to events that follow.
