Summary

Pharmacy Technician is certified - highly specialized technician reporting to the pharmacy for the Lebanon VAMC. The incumbent will perform duties that require a certain degree of specialized knowledge and skills in pharmaceutical work and an extensive knowledge of the routine procedures of the Pharmacy.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education or Experience: (1) None required.(2) For all grade levels and positions that accept both education and experience to qualify - equivalent combinations of qualifying education and experience that total at least 100% are qualifying
• The combined percentage is determined by adding total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level to the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level
• Certification: For positions above the full performance level - the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• OR (2) National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Grandfathering Provision
• The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 hybrid qualification standards
• Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation
• Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation
• All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply:(1) Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.(2) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/ registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/ certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.(3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.(4) Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.(5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Pharmacy Technician - GS-08: Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level - GS-7. This experience includes - but is not limited to: Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles - practices - concepts and theories providing for sound independent work
• Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent
• Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team - Veterans and external customers
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students
• Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations - policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases
• AND Certification: For positions above the full performance level - the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: PTCB as a CPhT
• OR NHA as a ExCPT Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs
• (a) Comprehensive knowledge of concepts - principles - methodology and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding - controlled substances - automation - clinical pharmacy - contact center - etc.) Note: See Specialized Area.in the Definitions Section
• (b) Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures
• (c) Ability to evaluate - analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy
• Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience - including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. - Peace Corps - AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. - professional
• philanthropic
• religions
• spiritual
• community
• student
• social)
• Volunteer work helps build critical competencies - knowledge - and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment
• You will receive credit for all qualifying experience - including volunteer experience .Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week
• Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities
• Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment
• Physical Requirements: May be required to sustain extended periods of stretching - standing - sitting and reaching during his/her employment
• This occasionally involves lifting moderately heavy items
• The Inpatient Pharmacy Technician must possess average agility and dexterity and must be able to work adjusted schedules and rotating shifts as assigned
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Duties

• The duties of this position are performed in the sterile product preparation suite and accompanying storage areas of the inpatient pharmacy section at the Lebanon VA Medical Center Department of Pharmacy service
• Duties: Knowledgeable in United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 797/800/795 - Pharmacy Law - VHA Directives - and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations as they relate to practice within the VA Healthcare System and its organizational elements
• Using aseptic technique - compounds both complicated and uncomplicated parenteral admixtures in the form of large volume - small volume - infusion syringe or another modality as required
• Prepares sterile ophthalmic preparations and other complex sterile pharmaceuticals such as total parenteral nutrition and cardioplegia solutions
• Correctly interprets orders - selects - and measures appropriate ingredients - mixes ingredients in an aseptic and effective manner - inspects the final product for accuracy - suitability - and elegance - labels the product - maintains records of the manufacturing process - and supplies the product for delivery
• Understands specific handling considerations for storage - distribution - and disposal of medications
• Consistently displays competence with good aseptic technique manufacturing practices through demonstration and/or actual work performance
• Technical working knowledge of equipment and supplies used in compounding sterile products including but not limited to admixing pumps - needles - syringes - and various compounding supplies - etc
• Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment including but not limited to Omnicellâ„¢/Pyxisâ„¢ - laminar flow hoods - total parental nutrition (TPN) compounder - repeater pumps - etc.) Ensures that the IV cleanrooms are cleaned daily - and appropriate logs are completed for daily - weekly - and monthly cleaning
• Uses knowledge - skills - and abilities to resolve questionable orders or situations to ensure quality of care
• Contacts pharmacists to obtain clarification for prescriptions/orders or any situation that presents a possible hazard to patient care
• Performing accurate product selection - dosage calculations and compounding of agents utilizing package literature - written procedural guidelines and application of specialized knowledge
• Generating of proper product identification labeling and assigning accurate stability and handling information
• Labeling also includes appropriate auxiliary information to ensure safety and efficacy to the patient and other handlers of the product
• Upon completion of the order - contacts the assigned pharmacist for a final check and then delivers prepared products to the wards - clinics - or other designated areas
• Stocking and maintaining the Pharmacy Service preparation area(s) - reviewing anticipated inventory needs and notifying the procurement technician in a timely manner of products required
• Work Schedule: Rotating shifts 7am-3:30pm - 8am-4:30pm - 3pm-11pm with rotating Weekends and Holidays Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 595-05148-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized