A nurse is preparing to administer a medication and notices it is past its expiration date. What is the appropriate action?

A. Discard the medication and obtain a new one from the pharmacy: Medications past their expiration date may have reduced potency or unknown chemical changes, making them unsafe or ineffective. The correct and safe practice is to discard expired medication and obtain a current supply. B. Administer the medication if the client has taken it before without issues: Previous tolerance does not guarantee safety or effectiveness of an expired medication. Administration could result in subtherapeutic effects or adverse reactions. C. Check with another nurse if it's okay to administer: While collaboration is important, the ultimate responsibility is patient safety. Expired medications should not be administered under any circumstances, regardless of peer approval. D. Continue with administration and notify the healthcare provider later: Administering an expired medication compromises patient safety. The healthcare provider should be informed before administration if an alternative is needed, not afterward.