A nurse administers 2 mg of morphine out of a vial containing 4 mg. Which of the following actions should the nurse take with the remaining medication in the vial?

A. Store the medication for the client’s next dose. This action is incorrect because storing a partially used vial of morphine can lead to contamination and is not standard practice for controlled substances. B. Discard the medication in a sharps container. This action is incorrect because sharps containers are intended for needles and other sharp objects, not for liquid medications. C. Return the medication to the pharmacy. This action is not typically required for small amounts of unused medication. The proper disposal method should be followed instead. D. Dispose of the medication as waste in an approved receptacle. This action is correct. Unused portions of controlled substances like morphine should be disposed of according to facility policy, often involving a witness to ensure proper disposal and prevent misuse.