Career Center

Summary

This position functions primarily for the inpatient care areas of Pharmacy Service under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. The incumbent is responsible on a rotating basis for provision of medications to hospitalized patients using the unit dose - automated dispensing system - and IV admixture preparation. He/she will perform inventory inspection - restocking - & ordering as well as providing necessary drug supplies to operating rooms - emergency department & ward drug areas.

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
• 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) 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 Foreign Education
• To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
• Documentation MUST BE TURNED IN WHEN YOU APPLY for this position
• 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) 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: GS-7:Experience
• One-year experience at the next lower level and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):Certification
• PTCB certification is required at this grade level and above
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: (a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles - practices - concepts and theories providing for sound independent work
• (b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent
• (c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team - Veterans and external customers
• (d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students
• (e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations - policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution
• (f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases Preferred Experience: Inpatient experience Preferred 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-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service.

Duties

• Duties of the position include - but are not limited to: Pharmacy technician will have access to patient profile - to assure missing dose requests appropriateness
• Pharmacy technician will compare the requested missing med against the active medication profile
• Reads and interprets prescriptions
• obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form
• determines proper amount and counts - pours - or measures the medications
• affixes proper label
• and records required data on Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order
• After a final check by a pharmacist - dispenses medication in ambulatory care - pass - or discharge situations
• For unit dose medications - either fills unit dose cart or performs final review of medication prepared by another technician to be dispensed to inpatient areas
• Inventories and replenishes medication trays for placement into emergency crash carts
• Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes as assigned
• Uses the AR/WS computer program to generate a list of ward medication needs
• Processes requests for ward medications - prepares and delivers products according to pharmacy operating procedures
• Prepares and fills all inpatient orders and requests for controlled substances
• Receives new stock and returned stock into inventory by ensuring the accuracy of controlled drug records
• Prepares IV admixtures including TPN/PPN - piggybacks - and other sterile products following proper aseptic technique within laminar IV hoods or biological safety cabinets Prepares IV admixtures in accordance with USP797 principles and other pertinent pharmacy policy and procedures following proper gloving and gowning
• Assists with quality checks as required by the USP797 guidelines including hood culturing - product sampling and testing for bacterial growth - and air quality sampling
• Work Schedule: Compressed/Flexible: 7days on and 7 days off Compressed schedule Telework: Not eligible for telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #:FS# 04236-F