need advice for career move..

[Qbert]

Ok, I have worked in my hospital unit for nearly a year..

I work 7p-7:30a in a Stepdown unit(critical care).

basically I take vital signs Q2h, Turn pts Q2h. do bathes and oral care with total care pts and all that fun stuff.. My "pt ratio" is officially 6:1, but as everyone knows, that isn't always the case. I can have the whole floor (13 pts), which isn't alot for some people.. but it involves A LOT of charting and some nights are crazy! I have had to stay about an hour over my shift a few times playing catch up and making sure my charting is all correct!

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE what I do. But my problem is I feel I am reaching my potential for my position.. I do the same thing every night.. And it's really physically exhausting..

I came into this position looking for an opportunity to advance..

I have requested and offered myself to be cross-trained as a unit secretary or telemetry tech due to the need of the unit.. but my boss always says.. the budget wont allow it.. :argue:

What I have been thinking is transferring to ICU where I will get less hands on patient care .. but I can be trained as unit secretary , gain more critical care experience , and work more hands on with charts and physician orders, do more mental work and less physical. Also, the few times I have floated there.. I would have some extra time to do homework..

Me being a nursing student, I don't know what to do..

any advice would be appreciated

thx~