Clarification from the agency

Open to Current Veterans Health Administration (Agency) Employees ONLY, including West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System (Facility) Employees and Current/Past VHA Health Professional Trainee (HPT) Graduates. Facility Employees will have FIRST consideration. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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GS-11 - Clinical Pharmacist - Graduate Pharmacist
A Clinical Pharmacist at the GS-11 level (Graduate Pharmacist) will have knowledge and proficiency in basic pharmacy practice including pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics. The incumbent is responsible for routine medication-related activities in accordance to local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and national policies and regulations under the oversite of the licensed clinical pharmacist.
Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Verifying medication orders involving the inpatient &outpatient settings as well as the Community Living Center and provider clinics. Responsible for checking the work of pharmacy technicians
• Provides patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicates relevant findings and/or recommendations to other health care providers in charge of the patient both orally and in writing. Monitoring will include prospective review and intervention in:
  • Therapeutic appropriateness of a patient's drug regimen
  • Therapeutic duplication in the patient's drug regimen
  • Appropriateness of the route and method of administration
  • Degree of patient compliance with the prescribed drug regimen
  • Drug-drug, drug-food, drug-laboratory, or drug disease interactions
  • Clinical and pharmacokinetic laboratory data to evaluate the efficacy of drug therapy and to anticipate side effects, toxicity, or adverse effects

GS-12 - Clinical Pharmacist
The Licensed Clinical Pharmacist at the GS-12 level is responsible for analyzing real and potential drug­ related medical problems and implementing corrective action to ensure that patients receive optimal drug therapy. The clinical pharmacist also applies standards relating to all aspects of distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs.

The primary function of a clinical pharmacist is to assure the safe and appropriate use of medications and be an advocate of rational drug therapy through the following: evaluation of the appropriateness of drug therapy based on patient specific factors; individualization of drug therapy; evaluation, dispensing and providing medications, and drug information.
Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Provides patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicates relevant findings and/or recommendations to other health care providers in charge of the patient both orally and in writing.Monitoring will include prospective review and intervention in:
  • Therapeutic appropriateness of a patient's drug regimen.
  • Therapeutic duplication in the patient's drug regimen.
  • Appropriateness of the route and method of administration.
  • Degree of patient compliance with the prescribed drug regimen.
  • Drug-drug, drug-food, drug-laboratory, or drug disease interactions.
  • Clinical and pharmacokinetic laboratory data to evaluate the efficacy of drug therapy and to anticipate side effects, toxicity, or adverse effects.
  • Physical signs and clinical symptoms relevant to the patient's drug therapy.
• Performs continuous evaluation of prescribed medications to assure optimal drug therapy.
• Candidate will be a pharmacist backup in the infusion center and will be responsible for assisting in compounding hazardous (Ex Chemotherapy) and Non-hazardous medication.
• Candidate will be verifying medication orders and completing chemotherapy double checks for this setting.
• Candidate will also be a pharmacy backup in the State Nursing Home in Port St. Lucie Florida

Work Schedule: Rotating Tours (Day, Evening, Overnight, Weekends, Holidays)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 40955F/40177F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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:
Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d)..
Education:

• (1) Graduate of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60602-5109; phone: (312) 664-3575, or through their Web site at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.)
• (2) Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the graduate is able to provide proof of achieving the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Commission (FPGEC) Certification, which includes passing the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)

Licensure: Full, current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia. The pharmacist must maintain current registration if this is a requirement for maintaining full, current, and unrestricted licensure. A pharmacist who has, or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16.

NOTE- Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification.

EXCEPTION - Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level (GS-11) as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. S7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed two (2) years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. For grades GS-12 and above, the candidate MUST be licensed. Failure to become licensed within two (2) years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employment.

Licensed Pharmacists may qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard - GS-0660 (formerly VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15) (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:
GS-11 Pharmacist

• Experience, Education, and Licensure. No post-educational experience, education, or licensure is required at the GS-11 level beyond the Basic Requirements.
• Assignments: Pharmacists at this grade level serve in a developmental capacity.

GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level)

• Experience -OR- Education. In addition to the Basic Requirements, candidates must meet one of the following:
  • One (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, -OR-
  • Completion of an ACPE-Accredited Pharm.D. program.
• Assignment. A pharmacist in this assignment handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and national policies and regulations. These include, but are not limited to: reviewing, interpreting, and verifying medication orders for appropriateness; processing and filling medication orders; interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care; reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, labs, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems; etc. (please see the referenced Qualification Standard for additional information).

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's): Pharmacist assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
  • Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff.
  • Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
  • Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Preferred Experience:

• At minimum one year of Inpatient Pharmacy operational experience (automation, controlled substance handling, pre-packaging, medication order verification, clinical order reviews, compounded sterile preparations).

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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA Agency employees.
3. Current/Past VHA Health Professional Trainee (HPT) Graduates

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.