Summary

The Pharmacy Technician is expected to accomplish all duties related to stocking - delivering - inventory - inspections - assembling ward orders - prescription assembly - controlled substances distribution - sterile compounding (including hazardous drugs) - unit-dose drug packaging - dispensing - distribution - and any other function related to pharmaceutical practices.

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:4 (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• OR (2) National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT) English Language Proficiency
• Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: Experience
• Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): 1
• Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles - practices - concepts and theories providing for sound independent work
• 2
• Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent
• 3
• Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team - Veterans and external customers
• 4
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students
• 5
• Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations - policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution
• 6
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases
• Certification
• For positions above the full performance level - the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:(a) PTCB as a CPhT.OR(b) NHA as a ExCPT
• Preferred Experience: Hospital Inpatient - Pyxis and Sterile Compounding experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07 Physical Demands: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for this occupation - see duty section for essential duties of this position
• May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - - pulling - and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
• Work Environment: Work is performed in an office clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
• the area is adequately lighted heated and ventilated
• However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once and sometimes stressful situations.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include but are not limited to: Accurately interpret - fills - and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification
• Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition by assuring that all stock and equipment are in assigned places and all shelves and counters are free of dust and debris to create optimal work areas
• Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines - including the storage of high-risk - look a-like sound a-like - hazardous - controlled substances - corrosive chemical - flammable liquids - and refrigerated items
• Places in appropriate automated dispensing cabinet and/or other assigned location in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to assure correct items have been received
• Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures
• Reports automation malfunctions timely to the supervisor as appropriate
• Records expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system upon receipt and disposes of products according to VA guidelines
• Performs monthly inspections to assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to expired drugs are removed
• Completes inspection reports in compliance with regulatory requirements
• Compounds and/or reconstitutes Injectable - oral or external medications (sterile and non-sterile)
• This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used for final pharmacist verification
• Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution
• Identifies basic therapeutic problems - such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention
• Assists in training and orientation of new staff technicians - interns - and students
• Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program consisting of students - externs - interns - residents - and professional and non-professional staff members
• Demonstrates the ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality
• Performs duties of all lower grade technicians as needed
• Participates in performance improvement initiatives for pharmacy
• Assists in quality improvement activities by participating in assessment and action teams that will improve service as assigned
• Work Schedule: 7 on 7 off evenings/nights - weekends - and holidays
• Subject to change based on the needs of the facility
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) 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 Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 00859-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized