N-O

Nail care

Cleaning and trimming a resident's fingernails and toenails.

Nasal cannula

Two-pronged plastic tubing used to deliver supplemental oxygen into the nostrils.

Neglect

Failing to provide needed care, resulting in harm to a resident.

Negligence

Failing to act with proper care, leading to accidental injury or mistake.

New resident

An individual who has recently admitted into a long-term care facility.

Non-contagious disease

An illness that cannot be spread from person to person.

Nonverbal communication

Sharing information through gestures, facial expressions, and body language without speaking.

Nosocomial

An infection acquired specifically during a hospital or healthcare facility stay.

NPO

A medical abbreviation meaning 'nothing by mouth.'

Nurse's station

Central workspace where nursing staff coordinate care and complete paperwork.

Nursing assistant behavior

Professional and ethical conduct expected of healthcare staff.

Nursing assistant's role

Specific duties and allowed tasks within a CNA's scope of practice.

Nutrition

The body's process of taking in and utilizing nutrients for health.

Objective

Factual information observed or measured, such as a patient's vital signs.

OBRA

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, a federal law establishing standards for nursing homes.

Observation

Gathering resident data using sight, hearing, touch, or smell.

Ombudsman

Legal advocate who protects residents' rights and investigates facility complaints.

Open-ended questions

Prompts requiring descriptive answers rather than simple yes or no responses.

Opioids

Strong prescription pain medications carrying high risks of dependency.

Oral hygiene

Daily care and cleaning of the mouth, teeth, and gums.

Oral temperature

Body temperature measurement taken under the tongue.

Orientation

Awareness of one's identity, location, time, and current situation.

Osteoporosis

Condition causing bones to become thin, weak, and brittle.

Ostomy bag

External collection pouch worn over a stoma to gather bodily waste.

Over-bed table

Movable table designed to slide over a resident's lap or bed.

Oxygen

Supplemental gas prescribed for residents experiencing breathing difficulties.