Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent VA Nationwide employees, Federal employees of other Agencies, VHA HPTs, and U.S. Citizens NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The duties of the Clinical Pharmacist include, but are not limited to:

Clinical

• Reviews patient prescription and medical records to identify, monitor drug related problems and acts to resolve prescription/drug-related problems and potential problems including adverse drug reactions, drug interactions (drug, lab, food), inappropriate dosage polypharmacy, patient compliance, and to facilitate timeliness of discharge prescriptions, outpatient prescriptions and inpatient medication orders.
• Verifies accuracy of transcription and/or transcribes information into computer system or medication administration record as appropriate.
• Provides consultation to physicians, nurses and other health professionals on pharmacotherapy including basic and patient specific drug therapy and pharmacokinetics.
• Interacts directly with patients by evaluating patient's ability to understand medication instruction, providing oral and written counseling as appropriate on their drug therapy, and documenting these activities. Assures the patient medication list is complete and accurate through consultation with the patient and/or the patient's caregiver. Assures that the medical record contains an accurate and complete medication list and that this list is provided to the patient upon discharge from the facility.
• Recognizes, from a verbal or written patient presentation of symptoms, signs, laboratory tests and diagnoses, important medical problems, disease states, symptoms or abnormal laboratory values which may be induced by drug therapy and which may necessitate having drug therapy altered.
• Provides clinical pharmacy services under appropriate supervision and developed protocols.
• Performs advanced clinical services requiring in-depth knowledge and advanced monitoring skills and assessing patient outcomes and serves as a resource to other pharmacists and health professionals in this area. Documents appropriately in the patient record.
• Interviews patients to obtain and record in the medical records pertinent information required for dosing determination and medication histories.
• Documents in the medical records patient education and information regarding side effects of pharmacologic therapy or treatment rationale.
• Participates actively in the interdisciplinary team meetings and assist in the development and implementation of patient care plans when assigned.
• Participates in pertinent clinical pharmacy programs designed to maximize pharmacotherapeutic benefits from patient outcomes and cost perspectives.

Education

• Serves as a clinical role model for other pharmacists, residents and students, accomplished through exposure of these individuals to advanced clinical practice.
• Participates in Resident and Staff Journal Club by presenting and evaluating the current medical and pharmacy literature.
• Conducts ongoing educational programs within Pharmacy Service (includes, but is not limited to, Grand Rounds and in-services).
• Assists with the preparation of drug reviews, drug information bulletins and newsletters.
• Assists in the orientation and training for all new pharmacy staff members, students, and trainees when requested.

Quality Assurance

• Collaborates with Clinical Pharmacists to perform medication use evaluation in conjunction with the Medication Use Evaluation Subcommittee and quality assurance programs for the medical center.
• Participates on hospital and Pharmacy Service committees as assigned.
• Assists with the Quality Assurance (QA) program within Pharmacy Service as it relates to Clinical Practice.
• Participates in self-development activities to improve professional and administrative proficiency and potential.
• Performs evaluations and maintains quality assurance monitoring records (ie. maintenance of automated dispensing units, tracking dispensing errors, 72 hour narcotic inventories, etc).

Work Schedule: Rotating tours between 6:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday and holidays as assigned, subject to change based on the needs of the facility.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 598-00226-F; 598-00151-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.
• Must pass pre-placement evaluation.
• 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.
• 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

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.
• 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.
  • 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.)
  • 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 as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. For grade levels above the GS-11, the candidate must be licensed.

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 for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade.

GS-11 Pharmacist.

Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.


GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level).

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.


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: Experience in an ambulatory care/outpatient pharmacy.

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-111 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

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:
1st Area of Consideration - current permanent Central Arkansas Veteran Healthcare System employees;
2nd Area of Consideration - current permanent Veterans Healthcare Administration employees;
3rd Area of Consideration - current permanent VA Nationwide employees;
4th Area of Consideration - current/past Health Professional Trainees (HPTs); and
5th Area of Consideration - all other applicants based on Veterans' Preference.

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.