What is one of the four steps of medication preparation?

While checking the expiration date is crucial for ensuring the safety and efficacy of medications, the correct step among the options provided is about performing two medication checks. This practice is essential in the medication preparation process to help prevent errors. Performing two checks involves verifying the medication against the physician's order and ensuring it matches the patient's medication administration record.

This step helps to ensure that the correct medication is being prepared and administered to the patient, focusing on patient safety. Checking the medication's expiration date, while important, is typically included in these verification checks but does not encompass the broader practice of ensuring proper medication preparation through multiple checks.