How One Nurse Works in the U.S. and Also Lives Her Dream Life in Sweden
Interview by Brandy Pinkerton, RN NORG Contributor
Podcast Episode
Courtney has built a fulfilling career as a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse, where she finds deep meaning and purpose caring for newborns and their families. With nearly a decade of experience, she embraces the challenges and rewards of her specialty, while also prioritizing a rich personal life beyond the hospital. Her approach to nursing highlights the possibilities for flexibility, creativity, and balance—reminding fellow nurses that it’s possible to thrive at work while pursuing passions and commitments outside of scrubs.
Charting a New Course in Nursing-Meet Courtney
“My name is Courtney, and I’ve been a NICU nurse for nearly 10 years. After years of travel nursing, I’ve landed the perfect job for me: working per diem in a San Francisco Bay Area NICU, earning over $100 an hour. My career began as a new grad in Chattanooga, Tennessee, making $19 an hour and still charting on paper, and ten years later, I couldn't be happier with my work situation,” Courtney shared with interviewer Brandy Pinkerton.
She reflects on the possibilities in the nursing profession:
“There really is no other career (that I know of) quite like nursing. It’s one of the rare paths where you can earn a six-figure income traveling the country as a travel nurse, work just three days a week with full benefits, or go per diem and choose exactly when you want to work.”
Why the NICU?
Courtney’s passion for her specialty shines through:
“I always knew that if I became a nurse, it would be to care for babies. No other specialty ever appealed to me. The NICU is an incredible place where intensity and gentleness meet. It’s a world I hope most people never have to experience firsthand, but I’m honored to be there when they do.”
Life Beyond the Bedside
While she’s fulfilled at work, Courtney emphasizes balance and diverse interests:
“I’m proud to be a NICU nurse, but nursing isn’t my whole identity. Outside the hospital, I love traveling, exploring new places, crafting, hiking, and living life to the fullest.”
Her work schedule allows remarkable flexibility:
“Right now, I work just four shifts a month. I decide when I work... not the other way around. This freedom has opened doors I never imagined.”
Embracing Entrepreneurship
Courtney found space for other ambitions:
“With my extra free time, I launched Minimal Nurse, a small business designing custom nurse specialty t-shirts. Thanks to connections I made while travel nursing, I’ve created and shipped hundreds of shirts to hardworking nurses across the country.”
A Life Between Two Countries
She shares how nursing lets her pursue a unique lifestyle:
“My high salary and flexible schedule are now allowing me to live a ‘dual life’ between the U.S. and Sweden. My husband and daughter are dual citizens, and I’m now working toward my own Swedish citizenship. I spend weeks at a time in Sweden learning the language, being present with my daughter, hosting girls-only meet-ups, and enjoying my hobbies. When I am back stateside, I work my shifts in the hospital, spend time with friends and family, and catch up on all my favorite things in the U.S.”
She adds,
“I don’t know how long this chapter of dual living will last, but right now it’s a rare gift I’m fully embracing.”
Advice for Fellow Nurses
Courtney offers this encouragement:
“Make work work for you, not the other way around. If you dream of spending time abroad, consider a per diem job with a flexible schedule or take travel nurse contracts and plan trips between assignments. Remote nursing jobs are also an option for living abroad, but for me personally, I love the bedside. And if you’re like me, you don’t have to choose between the bedside and the adventure of living abroad. You really can have both.”
She concludes with a message for all nurses:
“Wherever nursing takes you, remember that you have more control over your career than you think. I hope my story reminds other nurses that you can build a life that fits you, your passions, your family, and the dreams you have outside of your scrubs.”
“Nursing has given me the freedom to design a life I love and if it’s possible for me, it’s possible for you too!”
You can find Courtney at www.minimalnurse.com and on Instagram @minimal.nurse and @courtneyelrefai if you want to check out or shop her shirts!
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