Mechanical Ventilation And Weaning

Course overview

Caring for mechanically ventilated patients is an integral and challenging part of nursing care in the ICU. Promoting patient safety is paramount in caring for mechanically ventilated patients. The nurse and other healthcare professionals must understand current modes and settings of ventilation, exercise-appropriate assessment and ventilation management skills, and safe and successful weaning techniques. The primary goals of mechanical ventilation are to enhance pulmonary gas exchange, decrease work of breathing, increase lung volume, reduce respiratory muscle fatigue, reverse respiratory distress and respiratory failure, improve hypoxemia and facilitate lung healing.