Learn the essentials of ventilator initiation: modes, settings, and management of patients during mechanical ventilation.
John Landry, BS, RRT
John Landry is a registered respiratory therapist from Memphis, TN, and has a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. He enjoys using evidence-based research to help others breathe easier, live healthier, and improve their overall quality of life.
Initial Ventilator Settings for Mechanical Ventilation
Learn how initial ventilator settings are chosen, including mode, tidal volume, rate, FiOâ‚‚, PEEP, flow, alarms, and reassessment.
Mean Airway Pressure (Paw): Clinical Uses and Key Concepts
Learn what mean airway pressure (Paw) is, how it affects oxygenation, and why it matters during mechanical ventilation.
Heart Sounds in Bedside Cardiopulmonary Assessment
Learn heart sounds, including S1, S2, S3, S4, murmurs, gallops, abnormal findings, and their role in cardiopulmonary assessment.
Lateral Neck Radiograph for Upper Airway Assessment
Learn how lateral neck radiographs help identify croup, epiglottitis, foreign bodies, enlarged adenoids, and upper-airway obstruction.
Oxygen-Conserving Devices: Types, Uses, and Benefits
Learn how oxygen-conserving devices reduce waste, extend portable oxygen supply, and support home oxygen therapy.
Home Oxygen Therapy: Equipment, Safety, and Guidelines
Learn about home oxygen therapy, including indications, equipment, safety, patient education, and troubleshooting tips.
Hypertonic Saline: Uses, Benefits, Risks, and How It Works
Learn how hypertonic saline helps induce sputum, mobilize airway secretions, and support mucus clearance in respiratory care.
Humidification During Mechanical Ventilation: An Overview
Learn how humidification during mechanical ventilation protects the airway, manages secretions, and helps provide safe ventilatory support.
How to Detect Foreign Body Aspiration on a Chest X-Ray
Learn how to identify foreign body aspiration on a chest X-ray, recognize key signs, and choose the right imaging for accurate diagnosis.
Inspection and Physical Assessment in Respiratory Care
Learn what inspection means in respiratory assessment, including signs of distress, cyanosis, posture, chest movement, cough, and sputum.
Ventilation-Perfusion (V/Q) Scan: Uses and Key Findings
Learn what a ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan shows, how it helps detect a pulmonary embolism, and how the results are interpreted.
Ventilation-Perfusion (V/Q) Mismatch: Causes and Treatment
Learn what a ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch is, how it causes hypoxemia, and why it matters in respiratory care.
Ventilation-Perfusion (V/Q) Ratio: Overview and Key Concepts
Learn what the ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) ratio means, including high V/Q, low V/Q, dead space, shunt, and hypoxemia.
Respiration: Overview, Process, and Clinical Importance
Learn what respiration means, including ventilation, gas exchange, oxygen transport, carbon dioxide removal, and cellular metabolism.
ABG Oxygenation Interpretation: PaOâ‚‚, SaOâ‚‚, and Hypoxemia
Learn how to interpret ABG oxygenation using PaOâ‚‚, SaOâ‚‚, FiOâ‚‚, hypoxemia, A-a gradient, and the P/F ratio in respiratory care.
Bronchospasm: Causes, Signs, Treatment, and Key Concepts
Learn what bronchospasm is, what causes it, how it affects breathing, and how it is assessed and treated in respiratory care.
Ventricular Fibrillation (VF): Causes, Signs, and Treatment
Learn about ventricular fibrillation, including its causes, ECG signs, symptoms, treatment, and why rapid defibrillation is needed.
Helium Dilution in Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT)
Learn how helium dilution measures FRC, calculates lung volumes, and helps evaluate obstructive and restrictive disease.
Nitrogen Washout in Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT)
Learn how nitrogen washout measures FRC, evaluates lung volumes, and helps detect uneven ventilation and air trapping.