Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open only to Permanent Federal Employees of VA. Internal to NOR CALIFORNIA Station 612 only. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Preferred Experience: Inpatient experience required


Major Duties include but are not limited to the following:

Clinical:
Clinical Functions: Pharmacists engage in a systematic and comprehensive process to accomplish three primary functions: (1) identification of patient's actual and potential drug-related problems, (2) resolution of actual drug-related problems, and (3) prevention of patient's potential drug-related problems. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

1. The application of a basic knowledge of pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and 9 pharmacotherapeutics to monitor and assess patient's response to drug therapy.
2. Conduction of interviews with patients or their caregivers for the purpose of establishing a medication history.
3. Consultation with other health care professionals to ensure the identification, resolution, and prevention of potential and actual drug-related problems.
4. Provision of drug information to other health care providers in either verbal or written format.
5. Provision of drug information to patients and counseling of patients on proper medication use.
6. Direct patient care activities, including monitoring of drug therapy and adjustment of medication regimen or dose under protocol in the inpatient setting.
7. Documentation of direct patient care activities using the medical record or hospital computer as appropriate.

1. Screen medication orders and dispense medications, including oral medications, small and large volume parenteral with additives, controlled substances, investigational drugs, and chemotherapeutic agents based on the knowledge of current pharmacy practice and standards.
2. Supervise, coordinate, and check work performed by pharmacy technicians, students, and volunteers, and provide back-up for technical staff when necessary.
3. Utilize a broad base of computer knowledge for drug order and prescription entry, as well as retrieval of laboratory results and other patient-related data in the computer.
4. Coordinate the patient discharge process with regard to medication, to ensure that the necessary medications are supplied in adequate amounts.
5. Ensure that professional standards, regulations, laws, and applicable guidelines and protocols are met when dispensing medications.

1. Precept and orient pharmacy residents, students, and other trainees as part of pharmacy educational programs.
2. Contribute information for written publication in newsletters and bulletins.
3. Participate in VA Pharmacy staff development presentations or in-services.
4. Provide in-services to other health care providers

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.

• 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.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

2. English Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

3. 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).
3. If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

• Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following:
  1. 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or
  2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs):
  1. Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
  2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff.
  3. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
  4. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

How you will be evaluated

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

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.