Summary

The Organizational Location of the Position is: Inpatient Pharmacy Section under the Office of the Associate Chief - Pharmacy Operations (Inpatient); Pharmacy Service - VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS) - Dallas - Texas.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)
• Education or Experience
• None required
• 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: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• OR National Health career Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Grandfathering Provision
• Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA 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 in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• English Language Proficiency
• Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English
• Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician - GS-07 In addition to the Basic requirements to qualify for the GS 07 Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6)
• 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 all of the following KSAs: 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
• Assignments
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties
• These pharmacy technicians mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting
• They assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives
• At this level - pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy
• They also function as staff pharmacy technicians in various locations of the pharmacy - including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional pharmacy locations - with minimal oversight
• Preferred Experience: 1 year of VA inpatient hospital experience
• 2 years of compounding experience Experience with pharmacy automation IV/chemo certification Reference: VA HANDBOOK 5005/159 For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting: (15-44 pounds)
• Moderate Carrying (15-44 pounds)
• Straight Pulling (less than 30 minutes)
• Pushing (less than 30 minutes)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (up to 6 hours)
• Standing (up to 6 hours)
• Repeated bending (up to 1 hour)
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"
• Hearing (aid permitted).

Duties

• Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf Major Duties include but are not limited to: Sterile Compounding Knowledgeable in United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards - Pharmacy Law - VHA Directives - and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations as they relate to practice within the VA Healthcare System and its organizational elements
• Successfully complete assignments and maintain annual competencies to IV sterile preparations according to USP standards
• Uses aseptic technique to compound parenteral admixtures in the form of large volume - small volume - infusion syringe or another modality as required
• Generates 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
• Interprets orders appropriately and performs accurate product selection - dosage calculations and compounding of agents in an aseptic and effective manner - utilizing package literature - written procedural guidelines and application of specialized knowledge
• Pharmaceutical Care Accurately interprets - fills - and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and/or medical supplies for pharmacist verification of outpatient prescription orders - inpatient orders - and clinic orders as required per policy
• Operate and maintain automated unit dose dispensing systems (i.e. - Omnicell - ScriptPro - Parata - etc.) including stocking and ensuring packaged items' accuracy before distribution
• Address and report malfunctions and troubleshoot as necessary to ensure functionality
• Medication Order Fulfillment: Prepares medication orders properly with the correct drug - strength - dosage form - quantity - auxiliary labels
• Assures that the correct medication is filled by using appropriate and established safety measures and checks
• Ensures appropriate review of medications to be dispensed to hospital areas per service level procedures
• Supports automation by manually filling orders not processed through the automation dispensing machine
• Ward and Clinic Stock Management: Correctly inventories - assesses - and determines the need for ward and clinic stock replenishment
• Performs and documents inspection of assigned hospital areas for medication storage
• Removes all expired and deteriorated drugs from the automated dispensing stations
• Administrative and Education/Training: Assists in training and orientation of new technicians - interns - and students
• Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program
• Use VA integrated software and Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (VistA) for various clinical and administrative tasks
• Communication Establishes - develops - and maintains effective working relationships and rapport with facility providers - nursing - Pharmacy Service personnel - and other departments as needed
• Serves as a source to resolve questions and problems affecting hospital staff members and patients
• Communicates in a manner that affords internal and external customers the ability to experience positive exchange and outcomes
• Work Schedule: 7on/7off schedule with 12hr and 10hr rotating schedules
• General Work Tours may be extended and/or adjusted
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 51420-FS Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Recruitment\\Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): 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 existing pay - 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
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized