Background: Invasive mechanical ventilation is common in an intensive care unit. The nurse works closely with the patient and should strive for person-centred care in accordance with guidelines and directives.

Aim: To review and synthesize qualitative research exploring adult patients' experiences of being treated with invasive mechanical ventilation in intensive care.

Method: A structured literature review of qualitative research. Structured searches were conducted in the databases CINAHL and PubMed, resulting in 14 articles. The methodology of the included articles was reviewed using a structured instrument and the results of the articles were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis.

Result: Four main themes: ‘A different perception of reality’, ‘The perceived discomfort’, ‘Including thepatient’ and ‘The suffering patient’. All with associated sub-themes.

Conclusion: The experiences of being treated with invasive mechanical ventilation are many and complex. The results illustrate the importance of person-centred care, which can play a crucial role in promoting good care and providing alternative communication for patients. The results can provide aknowledge base for nurses to be able to alleviate suffering that may occur during treatment of invasive mechanical ventilation.