Pre-ICU Rotation
A concise 9-video course for medical students, NP/PA students, and residents preparing for their ICU rotation. Under 1 hour total.
The 9 videos
Watching in order is recommended. If watching out of order, skim through the handouts of the prior videos in this course.
Knobology & the three breath events
Get oriented to the ventilator screen and the trigger / inspiration / cycle structure of every breath.
Watch →Four commonly used modes
Volume Control, Pressure Control, Adaptive Pressure Ventilation, and Pressure Support — what each one is doing.
Watch →Choosing a mode for your patient
When to use which mode, based on the patient in front of you.
Watch →Systematic assessment of the ventilated patient
A repeatable approach to looking at any ventilated patient at the bedside.
Watch →Resistance vs. compliance
Telling increased airway resistance apart from decreased compliance — the foundational mechanics question.
Watch →ARDS basics: tidal volumes and PEEP
Setting tidal volume and PEEP in patients with ARDS.
Watch →Ventilating asthma / COPD
The patient with elevated airway resistance: what to set and what to watch for.
Watch →The decompensating patient
What to do (and what to check) when a ventilated patient suddenly gets worse.
Watch →Extubation
When and how to liberate the patient from the ventilator.
Watch →Handouts
Take the key points with you to the bedside.
Ventilator cross-talks
Side-by-side comparisons of how different ventilator brands handle the same concept (e.g., knobology, settings, modes). Created by The MV-Ed Project.
Earn a certificate of completion
Finish the course and pass the knowledge check to receive a shareable certificate.
Each certificate has a unique URL you can share with your training program, if needed.
9 videos
(from old site)
Meet your instructor
Dr. Daniel Rozenbaum is an enthusiastic Intensivist and dedicated medical educator currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Indiana University. He has extensive experience developing curricula and teaching mechanical ventilation to a wide variety of learners.
Read full bio →Ready to go deeper?
The Comprehensive Curriculum covers the same topics in much more depth, across 5 modules and 44 videos — built for fellows, advanced practitioners, and RTs.
What additional content would you like to see?
Tell us what's missing or what you'd like covered in more depth.