Summary

Pharmacy Technician - Inpatient Pharmacy This position is assigned to the inpatient pharmacy located within the VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6) - Hampton VA Medical Center - Pharmacy Service. This position is for a certified pharmacy technician above the GS-6 full performance level at the Hampton VA Healthcare System. Pharmacy technicians at this level can work autonomously - using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties.

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) 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 accordance with VA Handbook 5005/15 - Part II - Appendix G28 - Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standard
• (1) Experience
• Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• (2) 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
• (3) Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (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 new pharmacy technicians and students
• (e) Ability to dispense medications 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
• 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)
• Preferred Experience: Pharmacy experience required
• Inpatient pharmacy experience preferred - IV/Chemo and sterile compounding a plus
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS07
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: a
• The work involves long periods of moving - standing and pushing carts about the work unit
• The work requires regular and recurring bending - lifting - stooping - stretching - lifting
• The incumbent must be a mature - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - demonstrating cheerfulness - compassion - courtesy and concern for staff and patients
• b
• Heavy lifting (45 lbs
• and over) - moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 lbs.) - and light lifting ( under 15 lbs.) - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - both hands - walking - standing - near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 - Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other - depth perception - ability to distinguish basic colors - ability to distinguish shades of colors - hearing (aid permitted) - and mental and emotional stability
• Environmental factors include - constant noise - dust - working closely with others - working alone - and protracted or irregular hours of work.

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Functions: General (1) Accurately interpret - fills - and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification
• (2) Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition by ensuring 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
• (3) Ensures 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
• (4) Receives - checks - rotates - and places in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to ensure correct items have been received
• (5) Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures
• Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate
• (6) Records expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system upon receipt
• (7) Trouble-shoots minor mechanical problems of all automated systems as they occur and coordinates resolution of more involved mechanical or software problems with Supervisor - vendor help desk - ADPAC - etc
• as appropriate
• (8) Extemporaneously compounds and/or reconstitutes sterile product preparations
• This includes calculating and compounding applicable dosage concentrations of compounded drugs or solutions for final pharmacist verification
• (a) Correctly interprets physician orders - selects - and measures appropriate medications for compounding - compounds ingredient components in a sterile and competent manner - inspects the final product for accuracy - labels the product - maintains records of the manufacturing process - and attains a final check by a pharmacist
• (b) Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration or beyond use date for each product prepared
• (c) Proficiently operates equipment including but not limited to balances and mixing machines in the routing of compounding pharmaceutical products
• (9) Resolves pharmacy/medication issues and functions as first-line telephone with other members of the healthcare team - veterans - and external customers
• Addresses telephone requests in a timely and courteous fashion - processing - for example - refill request - etc
• Forwards calls beyond the technician's scope to a pharmacist or supervisor
• (10) Attends orientation - education - and training programs
• Reviews literature and other materials pertaining to the practice of pharmacy
• Completes all educational requirements and mandatory training programs required by the agency in the stipulated time-period
• Completes all competency/skills assessments as required in the stipulated time-period
• (11) 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
• (12) Properly operates all equipment in the assigned area(s) in an efficient manner and assist with troubleshooting automated dispensing equipment (ADE) - other assigned equipment's or technology platforms/databases
• (13) Demonstrates the ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality
• (14) Assists in quality improvement activities by participating in assessment and action teams that will improve service as assigned
• (15) Assists higher level technicians as needed (16) Completes all National - VISN - local - and Pharmacy mandatory trainings in a timely manner
• (17) Maintains national certification with PTCB or ExCPT (18) Complies with all VHA - Medical Center - and Pharmacy regulations - directives - policies - and procedures
• (19) Appropriately maintains and complies with all expected competency assessments associated with full performance level related to the position
• (20) May be assigned to assist with duties or other work areas in pharmacy service to help fulfill our mission and abide by our organization's values
• Work Schedule: Must be available for variable tours: days - afternoons - evenings - nights - weekends - and holidays as needed
• Subject to change based on the needs of the service
• Telework: Not eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000