After discontinuing Vancomycin and starting Mefoxin, the patient exhibits signs of confusion. What action should the nurse take?

The choice to notify the physician about potential alcohol withdrawal is particularly relevant because the combination of discontinuing Vancomycin and starting Mefoxin may lead to confusion, which can be a typical sign of alcohol withdrawal. If the patient has a history of alcohol use, suddenly stopping alcohol consumption can lead to withdrawal symptoms, including confusion, agitation, and delirium.

In this context, timely communication with the physician is essential to ensure appropriate evaluation and management of the patient's symptoms. The physician can then determine whether further assessment or intervention is required to address the potential withdrawal or any medication-related side effects. Identifying and addressing alcohol withdrawal is crucial because it can escalate quickly if left untreated.

Other choices may not address the underlying cause of the confusion as directly as notifying the physician regarding alcohol withdrawal. Assessing for allergic reactions to Mefoxin might be relevant if there are other accompanying symptoms, but confusion alone does not typically indicate an allergic reaction. Changing the patient's medication regimen without further assessment may not be necessary at this point, and providing reassurance, although supportive, might not adequately address the potentially serious situation of alcohol withdrawal.