Help! I don't "get" vents!!!

[Penelope_Pitstop]

Hey everyone!

Very recently I left MedSurg after 7 years for critical care. Thank goodness I have years of experience and knowledge of what "normal" assessments are. So far things are going very well. Titrating pressors, measuring CVP, working with A-lines, etc. are still very foreign to me but I understand what I'm doing and just need practice.

However...

I don't understand vent settings. I feel like when people try to explain them to me, they are speaking Bulgarian. I feel like a total moron because all I comprehend is FiO2. I write down the settings and pass them along, but I don't know what they mean!

Disclaimer...I've only had seven days in the unit and I'm still with a preceptor, of course, so I don't want anyone to think I'm caring for these patients on my own.

I just need someone to explain to me, in layman's terms even, what the heck the different vent settings mean. (AC? PSV? PEEP? PIP? IDK my BFF Jill?)

Thanks!

[RNCCMMS, RN]

DeLanaHarvickWannabe

I like your quote at the bottom of your post!

[akinaRN]

Very basically, this is how I explain the 3 main settings we use in our ICU. With other modes, I have to ask our RRT to explain to me every time I come across it.

AC--The vent gives set tidal volume on ALL the breaths, even the ones the pt initiates.

SIMV--The vent gives set tidal volume on only the set breath rate.

Spontaneous is, well, spontaneous--the pt does most of the work (I only say most, because generally they're on pressure support/PEEP as well.

Correct me if I'm wrong. And obviously, this is just the most basic way to remember.