A nurse is administering 4 mg of hydromorphone to a client by mouth every 4 hr. The medication is provided as hydromorphone 8 mg per tablet. Which of the following actions is appropriate for the nurse to take?

A. Return the remaining medication to the facility’s pharmacy. This action is not appropriate because it is not standard practice to return partially used medications to the pharmacy. B. Dispose of the remaining medication while another nurse observes. This action is correct. Proper disposal of controlled substances like hydromorphone requires witnessing by another nurse to ensure accountability and prevent misuse. C. Store the remaining half of the pill in the automated medication dispensing system. This action is not appropriate because storing a half tablet in the dispensing system can lead to contamination and dosing errors. D. Place the remaining half of the pill in the unit-dose package. This action is not appropriate because it does not ensure proper disposal and could lead to medication errors or misuse.