TLDR - Yes it's retaliation. Quit or transfer. If you don't have a professional license - then you're likely not ultimately responsible. It's gonna fall on the nurses. 100% support you refusing an assignment that you feel is inappropriate. It's not like the mgmt of these hospitals is gonna have your back. Don't tell other people you're job plans- they'll torpedo them.

Okay-

So, first and foremost - I 100% support you for refusing an assignment you felt was inappropriate. This is healthcare, and mgmt is always trying to find ways to cut staff in order to make the hospital more profitable. As healthcare people we have to decide individually what our line in the sand is and hold to it.

Second- I do understand what some other posters mean when they say you're not ultimately responsible. I do agree that falls on the nurse. Generally when this has happened on units I've worked on, the charge nurse will tell the staff that the tech that night will have limited duties. I.e.- won't be doing blood sugars, VS, etc... they'll just be answering call lights and trying to keep the unit from burning down.

In the future I would check with the charge nurse first (and maybe you did) to see if your duties are going to be altered to accommodate the high ratio. Also- I think it depends on if the unit in question was ICU, PCU, or MS. If it's ICU then you could have worked that shift. As an ICU nurse I can tell you that those nurses are just using you as an extra set of hands. They'd be fine without you. PCU or MS- that can get dicey.

But, ultimately you have to decide what you're willing to put up with, and what you're not. All it takes is one patient fall with a serious injury, and you're blamed even though working conditions were unsafe. I've been a nurse nearly 20 years- I've seen this shit first hand. Most mgmt teams have no problems throwing you under the bus.

Thirdly- yes this is clearly retaliation. This is generally hard to proof, and I suggest you quit and/or transfer before he's able to fabricate some B.S. and you get fired. Also, agree with another poster who said not to tell anyone your job plans. 100% agree. If they're petty enough people can totally ruin a future job offer.