ABSTRACT
Respiratory failure are two types: oxygenation failure, and ventilatory failure. Artificial ventilation may fully replace patients' own ventilation, or support self-ventilation. Intensive care units developed from respiratory units. Providing mechanical ventilation, and so caring for artificially ventilated patients, is fundamental to intensive care nursing. The more commonly available modes on ventilators include: pressure regulated volume control, synchronised intermittent mandatory ventilation, adaptive support ventilation, neuronally asssisted ventilation, airway release pressure ventilation, pressure support ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure, bilevel positive airway pressure, and proportional assist ventilation. Different modes and ventilators offer different options, but core options are: tidal volume, minute volume, respiratory rate, and oxygen. Independent lung ventilation may be impractical owing to: insufficient available ventilators, increased costs and workload, and danger to safety. Ventilators are usually complex machines and can be a source of fear for many nurses new to intensive care unit, while technical skills are essential, the focus of care should remain the individual patient as a person.
