Final answer:
Weaning off a ventilator involves reducing dependence on the machine gradually until the patient can breathe unassisted, requiring a coordinated team effort.
Step-by-step explanation:
To "wean" someone off a ventilator means to gradually reduce their dependence on the machine until they are able to breathe on their own without any assistance. This process involves careful monitoring and adjusting the ventilator settings, allowing the patient's respiratory muscles to take on more of the work gradually. The weaning process requires a multidisciplinary team approach, including respiratory therapists, doctors, and nurses, who work together to support the patient's respiratory function as it improves. This may involve a series of trials where the patient tries to breathe on their own, increasing in duration as their strength and ability to maintain respiratory function improve.