A nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about expired medications. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

A. Return the medications to the pharmacy: Expired medications should be returned to the pharmacy or designated medication disposal area to ensure proper handling and prevent accidental administration. Pharmacies follow regulatory guidelines for safe disposal or destruction. B. Place the medications back in the medication cart: Returning expired medications to the medication cart is unsafe because it risks administration to clients and violates medication safety protocols. C. Notify the provider about the expired medications: Providers do not need to be notified about expired medications unless it affects a specific prescription; the responsibility for proper disposal lies with the nurse and pharmacy. D. Flush the medications down the toilet: Flushing medications is generally discouraged due to environmental contamination risks unless specifically recommended for certain drugs. Safe disposal should follow pharmacy or institutional protocols.