Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term, chronic respiratory disease from which patients never fully recover. COPD patients usually face abnormal aeration caused by the disease. Patients that are unable to breathe and aspirate adequately and maintain lung appropriate expansion and contraction are considered to have ineffective breathing patterns. This causes physical, psychological and behavioral changes in COPD patients and impacts their emotional condition, daily activities and quality of life. Nurses who care for COPD patients with ineffective breathing patters can improve breathing muscle functions, improve respiration and keep the airway clean. In this paper, the author reviews and integrates relevant findings on this subject from the empirical literature in order to assist clinical nurses responsible for the care of COPD patients.