Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 79%
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
C
Rationale
The correct answer is C: Discard the medication. Expired medications may have decreased effectiveness or become harmful. By discarding the medication, the nurse ensures patient safety. Returning to the pharmacy (B) is not appropriate as it may still be mistakenly used. Giving the medication (A) is unsafe. Notifying the provider (D) is important, but immediate action to discard the medication is necessary.