Medication pass times

[ORNurseAngie]

I have a question regarding medication pass times. At the hospital I currently work if a medication is due at 1000 we have an hour before and an hour after to complete the med pass. Is this the norm? I am constantly being interrupted and have to stop what I am doing during med administration times and I often times if I start passing meds at 9 I am still struggling to complete the med pass by 11. Recently we were told that administration is trying to change the med policy to 30 mins before and 30 mins after the med was due. Is this the norm? We were told that was the reasoning behind the change but I don't know how I will ever complete passing meds in one hour to six patients sometimes seven when I am constantly being bothered and interrupted.

[caliotter3]

I have worked in facilities where it was either one hour or thirty minutes. I think either is reasonable depending upon the number of meds and patients that one is dealing with. Whenever I asked this question on the job, no one could ever provide a definitive answer.

[spongebob6286, BSN, RN]

sometimes no matter how hard u tried to be on time, you ended up getting delayed. its bec. some unexpected events happens.

[BluegrassRN]

Our facility is one hour before, one hour afterwards. Some meds you know to give nearly on the dot--if you're giving something every 2-4 hours, it needs to be on time. If you're giving something that is BID or q day; what does it matter? Most patients don't take their home meds at the exact same time every day, right?

So, it depends upon the medication, the patient's acuity level, and the time frame; but in general one hour before or an hour after is fine.