This article discusses the history, types and essential components of mechanical ventilation. It addresses the potential complications associated with mechanical ventilation and outlines the nurse’s role in the recognition and prevention of such complications. This article provides an overview of some of the advances in mechanical ventilation and emphasises the importance of patient safety through an awareness of the associated risks and limiting or avoiding mechanical ventilation where possible.
Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2018.e10710
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
AcknowledgementNursing Standard wishes to thank Nicola Credland, lecturer in critical care and advanced practice at the University of Hull, for coordinating and developing the critical care series
Received: 05 October 2016
Accepted: 14 July 2017
Published online: 06 March 2018
