Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 71%
Simulated
The nurse is preparing a medication for a client and observes the date of expiration on the vial occurred 2 months ago. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
The correct answer is A: Discard the medication. Expired medication may have reduced potency or become ineffective, potentially causing harm to the client. The nurse's priority is client safety, so discarding the expired medication is the appropriate action.
Summary:
B: Giving the medication is unsafe.
C: Returning the medication does not address the safety concern.
D: Notifying the provider may be necessary, but immediate action to discard the expired medication is crucial.
Summary:
B: Giving the medication is unsafe.
C: Returning the medication does not address the safety concern.
D: Notifying the provider may be necessary, but immediate action to discard the expired medication is crucial.