Clarification from the agency

Open to All U.S. Citizens. (Vet Preference applicable) NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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General Description of Assigned Duties
1. The clinical pharmacist ensures safe, effective medication use by assessing therapy, dispensing accurately, monitoring outcomes, educating, collaborating, and performing medication reconciliation.
2. Functions or Scope of Practice
A. Clinical
i. The clinical pharmacist ensures, effective medication use by assessing therapy, dispensing accurately, monitoring outcomes, educating patients and staffing, and resolving medication issues
.ii. Conducts patient counseling before discharge (including patient/family education), fulfills medication reconciliation duties, and documents the encounter, following these steps:
1. Collect a complete list of current medications from the discharging service. This includes dose, frequency, how long the patient has been taking each medication, and the purpose of each medication.
2. Validate and update the medication list to show which medications will be added, continued, or discontinued at discharge.
3. Compare the validated and updated list to the provider's discharge instructions and discharge medication orders.
4. Make recommendations about drug therapy by comparing the medication list with provider orders, taking into account the patient's medical condition and any refill needs.
5. Document all collected and validated information in the patient's electronic medical chart.
6. Verify and prepare oncology medications safely , monitors, collaborate, and support care.
7. Provide consultation to physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals regarding drug therapy.
8. Evaluates patient medication comprehension and provides clear oral and written counseling to reinforce understanding.
9. Monitors medication dosages and intended therapy using available clinical information.
10. Responds to pharmacy consults involving aminoglycoside and vancomycin dosing.
11. Addresses consults related to herbal medications, non-VA medications, and renal dosing considerations.
12. Reviews new medication orders for duplication, allergies, and continuity of care.
13. Participates in Quality Assurance programs as directed by the supervisor.
i. Validates and updates patient allergy information in VistA and CPRS for all admitted patients.
ii. Validates and updates Averse Drug Reaction (ADR) information in VistA, CPRS, and VA's Adverse Drug Event Reporting System (VADERS).
iii. Documents and reports medication errors and near misses.
iv. Provides clinical pharmacy information and supports services to ensure optimal therapy.
v. Works with outpatient pharmacy and staff to support seamless medication processes for discharging patients.
B. Dispensing
i. Verifies medication orders accurately using VistA and CPRS.
ii. Supports outpatient or inpatient pharmacy staffing as needed.
iii. Conducts quality control analysis for dispensing activities, including automated dispensing equipment and pharmacy technician workflows.
iv. Takes appropriate action on all medication orders, including non-formulary items, compounds, and items that are out of stock.
v. Resolves drug distribution issues and supports quality assurance programs.
C. Formulary Management
i. Participates in developing policies, procedures, criteria for use, and guidelines related to drug therapy.
ii. Reviews non-formulary or restricted medication requests, approves or denies them according to medical center criteria and clinical appropriateness.
D. Training, Education, and Personal Competence
i. Provides training, and orientation to pharmacy staff, students, and residents to support competency and professional development
ii. Educates patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals on medication therapy, safe medication practices, and clinical pharmacy services.
iii. Provides medication-related information to patients and healthcare staff.
iv. Delivers in-service education to pharmacists, residents, interns, students, nurses, medical students, and other healthcare professionals.
v. Maintains working knowledge of service and medical center policies, contributes to TJC surveys and other quality or risk management inspections.
vi. Maintains competence by taking part in staff development programs.
vii. Shares essential information with other pharmacists to support daily pharmacy operations.
E. Security
i. Maintains strict security over all medications within the pharmacy and hospital medication storage areas, ensures pharmacy security
F. Research
i. Participates in or assists with research projects assigned by the Pharmacy Service.
ii. Collects, analyzes, and organizes data for research or quality improvement projects.
iii. Reviews professional literature, incorporates applicable research findings into pharmacy practice.
Work Schedule: Primarily Monday- Friday Between 0600-1730. Rotating weekends and holidays based off the needs of the service.
Telework: No
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 40870f
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: No
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): No

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 (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).
• c. 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.
• (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-660 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

(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.

• e. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• f. 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: (2) GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level)
(a) Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following:

1. One (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or
2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.3. 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.

(b) 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; 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, nonformulary reviews 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.

Preferred Experience: PGY1

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-12 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.

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.