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 for proper disposal according to facility policy and safety regulations. This helps prevent accidental administration and ensures compliance with legal standards. B. Flush the medications down the toilet: Flushing medications is discouraged due to environmental risks. This practice can contaminate the water supply and harm aquatic life. Many medications are not effectively removed by wastewater treatment processes. Most medications should be handled through regulated disposal programs. C. Notify the provider about the expired medications: While maintaining communication with the provider is important, handling expired medications is a pharmacy and nursing responsibility. The provider does not need to be notified for routine disposal. D. Place the medications back in the medication cart: Returning expired medications to the cart poses a safety hazard, as it increases the risk of accidental administration. Medications past their expiration date must be removed from use immediately.