Placing NG tube in paraesophageal hernia repair patients

[NPark]

So yesterday I received a patient from the floor into the ICU because this patient was possibly septic and have bowel obstruction. Prior to the patient going to the floor 2 weeks ago, the patient has a paraesophageal hernia repair done. She ended up having some chylo in her thorax. General surgery was consulted for possible surgery. The doctor who was consulted wanted me to place a NG tube in right away in this patient. I've been a icu nurse there for 5 years and. In all those five years I've always been told not to place a NG tube in these patients and the doctors should especially if it's upper GI patients. I was demanded to put it in though I questioned the doctor and he became very angry at me. I asked if the resident can do it and he agreed. Later on I was again told to put it in and I verified it with my charge nurse whose been there 15 years. Do I have to right to say no to placing that NG tube? I can do it but just not in this particular patient population as I was always told because if there is any damage to that surgical site we will get ding for it. This doctor is a intensivist in the icu but not he primary team and the primary team is very specific on their orders in any situation. I feel like I was put in a situation that I couldn't get out of. What are your thoughts?

[EllaBella1, BSN]

I would have paged the surgeon to ask if it was ok and gone from there.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

I would have paged the surgeon to ask if it was ok and gone from there.

To add to this, ask the surgeon to put in an order that nursing may place NGT” and make sure that your facility doesn't have a policy that specifies otherwise.