Background: Mechanical ventilation is a therapy that sustains respiratory function for patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Identifying the factors that lead to morbidity in patients on mechanical ventilation requires an awareness of the clinical characteristics and outcomes of these patients. Study aim: assess the clinical characteristics and outcomes of mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit. Research design: cross-sectional descriptive research design. Setting: The study was conducted in intensive care units at Sohag University hospitals. Sample: all mechanically ventilated patients met inclusion criteria (n = 70). Tools: A patient assessment tool and patients' outcome tool were used to collect data. Results: The majority of the studied subjects had COPD with SIMV; VAP was the most common complication among them. Also, about one-third of the patients were dead. Conclusion: The overall mortality rate among those receiving mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit is substantially high. Recommendations: Regular risk and benefit assessments are performed by critical care nurses for all mechanically ventilated patients.