What should a medication aide do if they find a medication expired during administration?

When a medication aide discovers that a medication is expired during administration, the appropriate action is to report it and seek a replacement. Administering expired medication poses significant risks to patient safety, as the efficacy of the medication can be compromised, meaning it may not work as intended or could even cause harm. This scenario emphasizes the responsibility of the medication aide to ensure that all medications are safe and effective for patient use.

Seeking a replacement ensures that the patient receives the appropriate medication in a timely manner, which is critical for their treatment. Reporting the expired medication provides necessary information to the healthcare facility to adjust inventory and prevent future occurrences of expired medications being present for administration. This practice upholds safety standards and helps maintain the integrity of the medication administration process.