Final answer:
The committee is conducting a process analysis to evaluate whether nurses are following hospital policy by checking and recording patient's pulse before giving digoxin, which is critical for safe medication administration.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the quality assessment and improvement committee audits the nursing records to determine how often nurses are checking and recording a patient's pulse before administering digoxin (Lanoxin), they are engaging in a form of quality analysis. This is specifically known as a process analysis, which involves evaluating the steps that healthcare professionals take to comply with established protocols and policies. The focus on the process—in this case, pulse assessment and record-keeping before medication administration—rather than patient health outcomes indicates that this type of analysis aims to ensure that healthcare delivery adheres to a specific standard of practice. This is important for patient safety, especially with a medication like digoxin, where the heart rate of the patient can influence the safety and efficacy of the medication. An outcome analysis, by contrast, would focus on the results of care—such as rates of recovery or complications—and not on the adherence to process procedures.