The Breathing Ladder in the NICU | Nasal Cannula, CPAP, NIPPV & Ventilator Explained

If you’re a new NICU nurse, the respiratory equipment can feel like a foreign language. In this video we break down the four main rungs of support — nasal cannula, CPAP, NIPPV, and the ventilator — and why we move a baby up or down that ladder. My goal is to make neonatal concepts easier to understand through accurate, compassionate, evidence-based education—helping you build confidence one topic at a time. In this video, we’ll cover: 🫁 Oxygenation vs. ventilation 🫁 Room air and supplemental oxygen 🫁 Nasal cannula and high-flow nasal cannula 🫁 CPAP and how positive pressure helps keep the lungs recruited 🫁 NIPPV and how it differs from CPAP 🫁 Intubation and mechanical ventilation 🫁 Basic ventilator concepts including PIP, PEEP, rate, and inspiratory time 🫁 High-frequency ventilation, including HFJV and HFOV 🫁 Why you should always assess the baby—not just the monitor The goal isn’t to memorize every respiratory setting. It’s to understand what problem we’re trying to solve and why a particular type of respiratory support may be chosen. 👍 Like, subscribe, and share with a new NICU nurse. instagram.com/nicucompass/ website: nicucompass.net email: info@nicucompass.net ⚠️ Educational only. Follow your facility’s policies and clinical judgment. #NICU #NICUNurse #CPAP #NIPPV #Ventilator #ELBW #NeonatalNursing #NewGradNurse #NICUEducation #RNCNIC #PrematureBaby