A psychology qualification can lead to fulfilling careers in nursing or teaching, allowing you to make a lasting impact on the lives of others – whether by providing care in healthcare or shaping young minds in the classroom.
Explore career opportunities in nursing and teaching, including roles, responsibilities, skills, qualifications and potential employers.
Nurses and midwives provide high-quality, patient-centred care across various settings, drawing on their understanding of human needs and emotions to support individuals. They play a key role in both the physical and emotional aspects of patient care, ensuring comfort and wellbeing in often challenging environments.
Nurses can work in diverse areas such as mental health, acute care, aged care, rehabilitation, paediatrics and community nursing. Midwives specialise in maternity care, supporting patients through pregnancy, birth and postnatal recovery. Duties include administering medication, monitoring patient conditions, providing support and educating patients on disease management and self-care.
To succeed as a nurse or midwife, you'll need excellent interpersonal and communication skills to connect with patients and collaborate effectively with healthcare teams. Strong teamwork and the ability to adapt to changing situations will be crucial in fast-paced clinical settings.
Multitasking, problem-solving and staying composed under pressure are key to managing patient care and responding to emergencies. Compassion and empathy are essential when providing emotional support to patients and their families.
Additionally, organisational skills and attention to detail are necessary for managing patient records and medical procedures efficiently.
Nursing and midwifery roles typically require formal qualifications, such as Deakin’s Bachelor of Nursing or Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Midwifery. A psychology background is valuable for enhancing patient empathy and communication, which is why Deakin offers a combined Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Psychological Science.
Nurses and midwives can work in various healthcare settings, including metropolitan, rural and regional hospitals, as well as clinics and healthcare centres. Potential employers include local health districts, private healthcare providers and government health services.
Teachers are passionate professionals who inspire and guide students through tailored learning approaches. They leverage their knowledge of human behaviour and learning sciences to create environments where every student can thrive. By adapting teaching methods to individual needs, teachers foster growth, confidence and a love of learning, shaping the future of the next generation.
Teachers design and deliver lesson plans, monitor student progress, manage classroom behaviour and prepare students for their next phase of education. Their roles may also include creating assessments, reinforcing boundaries and rules, engaging with parents and guardians and collaborating with administrative staff to ensure effective learning environments.
To succeed in teaching, you'll need strong communication and interpersonal skills to connect with students, parents and colleagues. You should be able to adapt your teaching approach to cater to different learning styles, ensuring each student has the support they need to thrive.
Leadership skills are essential, as well as the ability to explain complex concepts clearly and concisely. Problem-solving, creativity and strong project management skills will help you manage your workload and create effective lesson plans.
Crucially, a genuine passion for educating others, empathy and the ability to inspire will be key to shaping the future of your students.
While the skills and knowledge gained from studying psychology are useful in the teaching profession, teaching roles typically require an undergraduate qualification, such as a Bachelor of Education. If you have an undergraduate degree in psychology, you can further your qualifications with a postgraduate course, such as a Master of Teaching.
Employers in the teaching profession include a wide range of education providers, from early childhood learning centres and primary schools to secondary schools, as well as adult education centres such as universities, vocational education institutions and community learning organisations.
A psychology background gives nurses, midwives and teachers the tools to connect, support and inspire. Whether you're guiding students or caring for patients, understanding human behaviour helps you make a real difference, enhancing communication, empathy and problem-solving in every interaction.
These professionals use their psychological insights to foster positive, lasting relationships and provide the support needed for growth and healing.
Find out more about studying psychology and mental health at Deakin.
