A patient with a history of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infection is prescribed vancomycin. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A. Administer the vancomycin as ordered.: Administering vancomycin without clarifying the prescription could be unsafe because the patient’s history of VRE indicates resistance to this antibiotic. Giving the drug despite known resistance would be ineffective and delay appropriate treatment. B. Notify the HCP about the patient's VRE history.: The nurse should first notify the healthcare provider, as vancomycin is ineffective against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. The provider may need to prescribe an alternative antibiotic, such as linezolid or daptomycin, based on culture and sensitivity results. C. Monitor the patient for signs of an allergic reaction.: Although monitoring for allergic reactions is always important, this action is secondary in this case. The priority is to ensure the medication chosen will be effective for the patient’s specific infection. D. Obtain a baseline renal function test.: Vancomycin can cause nephrotoxicity, so assessing renal function is standard before therapy. However, since the infection is resistant to vancomycin, evaluating kidney function is not the first or most urgent action.