Question

It is hospital policy to assess and record a patient's pulse before administering digoxin (Lanoxin). By auditing the nursing records to determine the frequency of compliance with this policy, the quality assessment and improvement committee is conducting:

1. A process analysis.
2. A quality analysis.
3. A system analysis.
4. An outcome analysis.

Answer 1

The committee is conducting a process analysis, reviewing the specific procedure of checking for pulse compliance before medication administration.

Step-by-step explanation:

A process analysis involves examining the steps taken in a procedure to ensure that they comply with established protocols and policies. In this scenario, the committee is not assessing the overall quality of service (quality analysis), examining the overarching system of healthcare delivery (system analysis), or measuring patient outcomes resulting from care (outcome analysis).

Instead, they are focused on the specific procedure, which is checking for pulse compliance before medication administration, making it a process analysis.

Monitoring pulse is critical as digoxin affects the heart. By ensuring that the pulse is checked, clinicians can prevent potential complications, such as digoxin toxicity, especially if the heart rate is too low.