Background:

To be intubated means that the power of speech is prevented. Patients also have limited mobility and are affected cognitively related to diagnosis and disease extent. In order to offer intubated patients optimal care ICU nurses should have knowledge about patients' experiences.

Aim:

The purpose of this study was to illuminate mechanical ventilated patients´ experiences of intensive care.

Method:

The study has been conducted as a literature review in which ten scientific articles have been used.

Results:

The result is presented in three themes and ten subthemes. Intense feelings with the subthemes: being betrayed by one's own body, dramatic experiences, experience of misunderstanding. Vulnerable as crystal with subthemes: to put one's life into a machine, to experience oneself invisible and to experience hopelessness. A ray of hope with subthemes: To have an urge for information, to have the will to live, to be given the opportunity and relatives become the life line.

Conclusion:

The results of the study shows a complex situation for the patient and for the nurse. After all there were some positive experience, such as that the patient did appreciate when the nurse made an effort in communicating. An effort could for example be, when the nurse helped the patient through communication difficulties. The results of the study were that the patient got strong overwhelming feelings, which made him feel extremely vulnerable and at the same time invisible. The nurse need deep understanding for the patient situation, to prevent unnecessarily suffering.