According to federal, state, and facility policies, unsupervised medications must be:

Storing unsupervised medications in a locked area is essential for ensuring patient safety and compliance with regulations. This practice helps prevent unauthorized access, reduces the risk of medication errors, and safeguards against potential misuse or diversion of medications. Locking up these substances is a common standard across federal, state, and local regulations, as well as within healthcare facilities, reflecting an overarching commitment to patient security and public health.

The other options do not align with the primary goal of protecting medications from unauthorized access. Counting medications every 6 hours by licensed providers, for instance, may not effectively guarantee their security if they are not stored safely. Additionally, restricting access to a facility manager could lead to inefficiencies, while requiring supervisory administration can hinder timely patient care. Thus, proper storage remains the most critical practice in managing unsupervised medications correctly.