OBJECTIVES: To quantify the time needed for staff members to complete the medication administration process and the implications to time resulting from the use of short cuts in long-term care. DESIGN: Time motion methods were used to time different medication administration processes and track compliance with state criteria. SETTING: Single long-term care facility in Medford, Oregon. Participants: staff members licensed to administer medications in the state. MEASURMENTS: Time required for medication administration tasks, interruptions, total time and state criteria were timed/tracked using a tablet PC. RESULTS: 65 patient medication administrations were observed. It was found that the average time per patient was six minute eleven seconds with a predictable increase in time per patient. CONCLUSION: It is impossible to administer the all the medications and meet all state criteria in the allotted time. Several contributing factors were identified including the predictable fatigue of the nursing staff.