Final answer:
The nurse will monitor for barotrauma as a complication when caring for a patient receiving mechanical ventilation with high levels of PEEP, as excessive PEEP can overdistend alveoli and cause damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse monitoring a patient receiving mechanical ventilation with high levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) will be vigilant for the complication of barotrauma. PEEP can increase lung volume to improve oxygenation, but excessive PEEP raises the risk of overdistending the alveoli and thus causing barotrauma, which could lead to pneumothorax or other related injuries. In contrast, complications like oxygen toxicity, pneumoperitoneum, and oversedation, while relevant to the care of patients on mechanical ventilation, are less directly associated with the use of high levels of PEEP.