Final answer:
Vancomycin can cause nephrotoxicity. Healthcare providers monitor vancomycin trough levels, BUN, and creatinine to assess kidney function.
Step-by-step explanation:
Vancomycin is an antibiotic that can cause nephrotoxicity, which is kidney toxicity. To monitor the kidney function of a patient taking vancomycin, healthcare providers check vancomycin trough levels, BUN (blood urea nitrogen), and creatinine. Vancomycin trough levels help determine if the drug concentration is within the therapeutic range, while BUN and creatinine levels assess kidney function. Elevated levels of BUN and creatinine may indicate kidney damage caused by vancomycin.