At the end of the Course the student will be able to:

• Define mechanical ventilation.
• Identify three clinical situations in which mechanical ventilation may be used.
• Describe the role of the respiratory therapist in the management of mechanically ventilated patients.
• List six types of artificial airways and the indications for each one.
• Describe the nurse’s responsibilities before, during, and after intubation.
• Identify three alternative means of communication for patients with artificial airways.
• Describe three different ventilator settings.
• Describe three different ventilator modes.
• List three potential causes for a high-pressure alarm.
• List two nursing interventions for a high respiratory rate alarm.
• List three types of non-invasive mechanical ventilation.
• Describe proper nursing care of an endotracheal tube.
• Describe proper nursing care of a tracheostomy tube.
• Describe the correct procedure for sterile suctioning.
• Identify two indications for sedating and pharmacologically paralyzing a mechanically ventilated patient.
• Define train-of-four and describe the correct procedure for testing.
• Identify four parameters that must be monitored while patients are mechanically ventilated.
• Identify five nursing interventions for a patient who is accidentally extubated.
• Define ventilator weaning.
• Compare and contrast two different weaning methods.
• Identify three criteria that indicate when the patient is ready to be extubated.
• Describe proper post-extubation nursing care.