Clarification from the agency

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

FUNCTIONS/SCOPE OF DUTIES:

Dispensing Functions:

1. Receives, interprets, processes, and fills medication orders.
2. Completes order entries of chemotherapy protocols with scheduling of long-term therapy for both oral and I.V. medications.
3. Prepares chemotherapy products utilizing aseptic technique and trained protective guidelines.
4. Participates in the check and/or double check of the entry and preparation of I.V. chemotherapy medications.
5. Fills automated dispensing cabinets as needed.
6. Checks and verifies accuracy of work performed by students and technicians.
7. Maintains statistics and unit records as requested.
8. Assists in drug procurement by reporting needed items to the unit's pharmaceutical procurer.
9. Prepares parenteral nutrition products following a patient assessment of medical and nutritional needs.

Clinical Functions:

1. Provides the full range of resources as a specialist in drug information covering a wide range of therapeutic classes and especially in the area of his/her specialty training. Advises other members of the medical/surgical team as well as other health care providers on all matters relating to medication, contraindications, drug interactions, formulary medications, etc.
2. Reviews the patient's medication profile for any possible drug allergies, incompatibilities, interactions, duplications, or compliance problems.
3. Serves as the pharmacy representative on the interdisciplinary teams when assigned. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to reviewing patient medication profiles, monitoring outcomes and/or recommending alternative therapy. Must have appropriate knowledge of disease states and clinical pharmacology.
4. Actively participates in the Medical Center's medication use reviews/studies to assess our medication use patterns including treatment of pain. Also participates in evaluating new drug requests and non-formulary requests for the inpatient pharmacy.
5. When assessing or providing patient care the employee will evaluate the impact of the age and disease status and factors as it relates to the patient's ability to understand directions provides objective self-assessment or any other medical milieu appropriate to the overall treatment plan.

Educational Functions:

1. Supervises and participates in on the job training for pharmacists, technicians, clerks, students, and residents.
2. Assumes an active role in the professional education of pharmacy students and provides guidance through designated programs.
3. Contributed to continuing education by providing presentations or in-services on current pharmaceutical issues to both the professional and technical staff.
4. Participates in quality assurance audits and drug utilization reviews.

Program Management:

1. Is responsible for operation of the inpatient pharmacy in the absence of a supervisor, handling any professional problems that may arise.
2. Supervises all technical and professional staff while acting as the pharmacist-in-charge.
3. Acts to ensure that Medical Center and Pharmacy policies and procedures are consistently followed.
4. Collects and submits data necessary for the preparation of AMIS, quality assurance and other management reports.
5. Assists in developing and updating various medication-related policies and operational procedures that affect his/her area of practice.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 12:00 pm - 8:30pm with rotating weekends and holidays. Work Schedule is subject to change based on agency need.
Telework: Not authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 54824-F
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:

• 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. (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. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy).
• TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED (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). YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF FPGEC CERTIFICATION WITH THE APPLICATION PACKAGE
• 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.
• YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF CURRENT LICENSE WITH THE APPLICATION PACKAGE.

English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).

Grade Determinations:GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level)Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following:1. Have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) which includes Knowledge of Professional Pharmacy Practices, Residency accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and Fellowship Training Program accredited by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)OR 2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.

Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following 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.

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).

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

Physical Requirements: Lifting/carrying up to 40lbs; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 1 hours); Standing (up to 2 hours); Repeated kneeling (up to 1 hour); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Ability to distinguish colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability.

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.