A patient tells the nurse that he is allergic to penicillin. What is the best response by the nurse?

A) "Are you allergic to any other drugs?"
B) "How often have you received penicillin?"
C) "Describe what happens to you when you take penicillin."
D) "I'll write your allergy on your chart so you won't receive any penicillin."

When a person states he or she has an allergy, the nurse should note both the allergen (medication, food, or contact agent, such as fabric or environmental agent) and the reaction (rash, itching, runny nose, watery eyes, or difficulty breathing). Before asking the patient about other allergies, the nurse should find out the patient's reaction to penicillin. Asking how often the patient has received penicillin is not necessary. Before documenting that a patient is allergic to a medication, the nurse should find out the reaction to it to determine if it is a true allergy or an unpleasant side effect. Both the allergen (medication, food, or contact agent, such as fabric or environmental agent) and the reaction (rash, itching, runny nose, watery eyes, or difficulty breathing) should be recorded.