Final answer:
The trigger variable for a ventilator that cannot be initiated by a patient is 'time' because time-triggered breaths are based on the ventilator's programming rather than the patient’s own breathing efforts.
Thus option C) time.is correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a ventilator is set to assist a patient's breathing, the machine can be triggered by several factors to deliver a breath. The options for triggers include: pressure, flow, and volume.
However, one option that does not initiate a breath by the patient is time. This is because a time-triggered breath is typically a function of the ventilator's control settings rather than the patient's spontaneous effort.
In other words, if the trigger variable is set to time, the ventilator will deliver breaths at preset intervals regardless of the patient's breathing efforts. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is C) time.
Thus option C) time.is correct answer.