36 Applications: PSYC100 Alumni in Health Science and Nursing
By Laura Abbatangelo, Riley J.T. Bonar, and Meghan E. Norris
We are pleased to share with you a PSYC100 alumnus who started out thinking that she wanted to go into clinical psychology, but whose interests developed such that she became especially interested in research in health care. Career plans and interests change—this is a normal and exciting part of the journey, although we know it can be uncomfortable at times. Check out where she is now!
Introducing, Laura Abbatangelo!
Laura Abbatangelo is an Accelerated Nursing Student at the University of Western who graduated from Queen’s in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology! When Laura started her undergraduate degree, she wanted to become a psychologist. Over time, Laura became really interested in research, especially research focused on health care, people’s experiences, and how systems can be improved. Laura went on to complete a Master of Health Science at the University of Toronto, where her work focused on health system improvement. Through that experience, Laura realized that she wanted to build practical clinical skills and work more directly with people. This led her to pursue an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Western University. Laura hopes to eventually combine her research background, psychology training, and nursing experience in a future role such as a Nurse Practitioner or clinician-researcher. A typical day in the life of Laura involves balancing classes, studying, clinical placements, and hands-on nursing skills practice. Depending on the day, Laura might be learning in the classroom, practicing skills in lab (much like many of you are!), or working with patients in a clinical setting. It can be busy and challenging, but it is also very rewarding because she is constantly learning how to connect theory to real patient care.
Psychological science factors into nursing more than people might expect. A strong understanding of human behaviour, stress, mental health, communication, and development is helpful when working with patients and families. In nursing, you are not only thinking about a person’s physical health, but also how they are coping, what supports they have, how they understand their care, and what might affect their ability to follow a plan. Laura’s psychology background has helped her think critically, understand research, and approach people with empathy and curiosity.
By taking PSYC 100, you join a vast community that contains members who have graduated and had a variety of experiences! We caught up with Laura and asked what her favourite memory from PSYC 100 was. Laura told us that she really enjoyed studying with friends! With this course being so relevant to so many different majors and disciplines, there was never a shortage of people to study with, and doing so made a big difference. In group study sessions, they would quiz each other, talk through concepts that were confusing, and help one another stay motivated. It made the course feel less overwhelming and showed her how helpful it can be to learn alongside peers. Laura also offered some advice about careers to students currently taking PSYC 100 and said it is important to do your best to persevere and stay open-minded. If psychology is something that genuinely interests you, it is worth exploring because it can lead to so many different paths. Some people go into psychology or research, but others use their degree to pursue careers in health care, law, education, social services, medicine, business, and many other fields. Psychology gives you a strong foundation in critical thinking, research, communication, and understanding people, which are valuable skills in almost any career. You do not need to have everything figured out right away. Try different opportunities, pay attention to what interests you, and let your path evolve!
How to cite this resource:
Abbatangelo, L., Bonar, R.J.T., & Norris, M.E. (2026). Applications: PSYC100 Alumni in Health Science and Nursing. In PSYC 100: Principles of psychology. eCampusOntario. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/testbookje/chapter/applications-psyc100-alumni-in-health-science-and-nursing/
