Clarification from the agency

Open to all U.S. citizens NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

Duties to include but not limited to:

1. Inpatient Section: Unit Dose Area
   • Incumbent performs all duties associated with a pharmacist's professional services, (i.e., receiving and interpreting physician's medication orders, correcting and clarifying these orders, offering professional judgment on the appropriateness of a particular order and/or alternate information or suggestions for therapy on a selective basis.) Incumbent has the ultimate responsibility in facilitating the delivery of the correct drug in the correct dosage to the correct patient in order to be administered at the correct time 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; contacting providers as appropriate; documenting recommendations and interventions; providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies; taking health and medication histories; performing medication reconciliation; providing drug information; assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, prior authorization drug requests and medication usage evaluations; documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs); assisting in medical emergencies; providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution.
   • Clinical activities in this area including monitoring for drug-drug interactions, drug-lab interactions, and drug-food interactions. The pharmacist also reviews the patient profile for therapeutic duplications and potential adverse drug actions.
   • In performance of unit dose activities, the pharmacist is also responsible for the supervision and monitoring of technician activities in this area. These activities include, but are not limited to:
     • Correct filling and dispensing of both STAT and scheduled doses from any or all of the inpatient areas (i.e., unit dose, narcotic, IV, etc.).
     • Adherence to established unit dose policies and procedures and procedures such as stop order policies, scheduled drug, PRN scheduling and one-time only drug changes in BCMA/Vista.
2. IV Admixture Section
   • Responsible for facilitating preparation and delivery of all compounded intravenous fluids as ordered by the physician.
   • Requires the application of professional knowledge and judgment in interpretation and clarification of parenteral drug orders. The compounding of IV admixtures requires a specialized body of knowledge involving compatibilities and stabilities of parenteral drugs in various solutions.
   • Clinically, the staff pharmacist must be knowledgeable in therapeutic application of the various products dispensed including parenteral drugs, intravenous solutions, hyperalimentation solutions, investigational drugs, oncology drugs and other items such as blood components and solution administration sets.
   • In performance of IV additive activities, the pharmacist is responsible for adhering to USP 797 and 800 guidelines for compounding sterile products and hazardous products and the supervision and monitoring of technician activities in this area. These activities include, but are not limited to:
     • Electronic verification of the physician's IV orders to the BCMA record.
     • The preparation of IV admixtures utilizing aseptic technique.
     • Adherence to established IV additive policies and procedures such as
       • Strict adherence to aseptic technique procedures.
       • Proper stop electronic order information for antibiotics through BCMA/Vista.

• The preparation of IV additive labels in the proper format using the IV labeling and computer or other methods available.
• The proper use of sterile transfer devices, (syringe needles, closed system transfer devices, pipettes, and other various sterilizing filters
• The proper cleaning of the laminar flow hood, the proper maintenance of the laminar flow hood filters, personally perform IV sterility testing, and the record keeping of the above-mentioned tasks.
• Daily monitoring and documentation of laboratory values regarding TPN patients. In the absence of technicians, the pharmacist is responsible for performance of the abovementioned items. The pharmacist is always responsible for the final check of all parenteral products dispensed by pharmacy technicians.

Work Schedule: Rotating shifts to include days, nights and weekends
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00000
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 identification 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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education: 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. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree programs; today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy) 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 (TOEF iBT).
• Licensure: Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia.
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

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, 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
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.

Preferred Experience: Inpatient pharmacy experience, compounded sterile products, Omnicell, CPRS/VISTA experience

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 12.

Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction. This position involves: Must be in overall good health. The work requires standing, walking, moderate lifting and carrying of items. The work also requires the use of fingers, the ability to read without strain (far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other), and the ability to hear (aid permitted).

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.