Vent Training

FYI, some countries do not have the position/career of Respiratory Therapist. Registered Nurses provide the vent setup and maintenance.

I took a Respiratry ICU course in 1979 after a ventilator dependent patient suddenly appeared on my  medical unit: as night shift LPN I was in charge of patient along with 25 other patients and ONLY nurse on the unit.  Paged Ponze my night RT for crash course in suctioning/ambu/hooking vent back up to ET tube.. Bless him, he stopped by every hour to check on client and ME!  

Later that year post course, transitioned to 14 bed Respiratory Telemetry unit as sole night LPN; got my RN BSN in '82. By 1985, we had 8 vents on unit, 3 patients per RN.

Started perdiem home care in 1985 caring for vent dependent patients at home along with home infusion-- cleaned vent circuit, adjusted settings per Pulmonary MD discussion, changed established trach tubes + treated trach granulation tissue.  One patient requiring 24hr care since I was first RN in the home. so fell to me to establish nursing and respiratory vent care plan  which all staff followed -- she lived for 10 years afterwards with care plan poster still hanging in their room.  RT only came monthly to check vent

BY 2018 my husband developed Pulmonary HTN requiring 10 L O2 continuously@home.  Post Respiratory arrest --in my car + successful CPR, came home on a Trilogy Ventilator living 2 more years till body wore out.

SO I fully support nurses learning Respiratory and ventilator care understanding its an important part of OUR nursing practice.

Sampling of courses available:

I attended many Society of Critical Care Medicine conferences in 80-90's in Las Vegas:  Airway and Mechanical Ventilation Management

Mayo Education: Mechanical Ventilation Conference Online CME Course until Nov. 2025

Mechanical Ventilation Essentials

Vent and Trach Course California -inperson or online