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Pharmacy Technician

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Alexandria VA Health Care System
This job announcement has closed

Summary

**Current, permanent VA employees or Federal employees from other agency, should apply to CBST-11458118-22-DL.**

The Pharmacy Technicians function in various areas of the pharmacy, eg., inpatient pharmacy, outpatient pharmacy, IV admixture sterile compounding room, various storage areas, offices and patient care areas, under the supervision of the outpatient or inpatient pharmacy supervisor.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
04/18/2022 to 05/09/2022
Salary
$40,262 to - $52,341 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 6
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Alexandria, LA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBST-11458119-22-DL
Control number
649513100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to the public.

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Duties

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The Pharmacy Technician provides services related to inpatient and/or ambulatory patients in Pharmacy Service. The incumbent must possess an advanced technical knowledge of drug and medication brand names, generic names/chemical names, general and special storage requirements, expiration date requirements, manufacturer/distributor sources, dosage forms, applicable systems of weights and measures and medical terminology to interpret providers' orders and verify correct drug, dosage form, strength and dose is prepared and/or distributed.
Duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile) without a second review. This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used;
  • Maintains sterile compounding areas in full compliance with USP Standards;
  • Maintains proper records of all prepacked items to include amount, manufacturer, lot number, and expiration date, etc;
  • Identifies basic therapeutic problems, such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention;
  • Processes missing dose requests generated from BCMA, pharmacy automation, and FedEx. Interprets order, selects correct drug and enters drug and dose dispensed into Vista;
  • Inventories working stock-controlled substances and maintain accurate records as directed by M2 Part 7 and VA Controlled Substance Policy;
  • Accurately prints BCMA labels and affixes to correct drugs, IV labels, and medication labels, (etc.) required and/or as directed by the supervisors;
  • Assists in total quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve services;
  • Compounds (after consulting with pharmacist) products involving variations from standard formulae;
  • Auto-replenishes ward-stocked medications on various nursing units and treatment areas assuring that the expiration dates are in date and stock properly rotated.
  • Performs final review of medication when prepared by another technician, to be dispensed to inpatient areas (medication carts, ward stock), and/or fills unit-dose carts independently without secondary review, when necessary;
  • Routinely identifies the customer's situation properly and performs the tasks required to resolve the customer's questions/issues accurately and in a timely manner;
  • Ensures Chemotherapy agents are stored and maintained appropriately in accordance with departmental policies, procedures, and State and Federal laws and regulations;
  • Stock management; operation, maintenance, re-stocking and troubleshooting of automated dispensing equipment;
  • Inpatient preparation and distribution of unit dose medications and ward stock items and intravenous admixtures including cytotoxic chemotherapy;
  • Processing and filling outpatient prescriptions for scheduled and non-scheduled federal legend drugs and medical devices, over-the-counter products and supply items.

Work Schedule: This is an Outpatient/Inpatient rotating position including weekends, evenings and holidays.
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 502-00176-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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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.
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period.
  • Subject to background/security investigation.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
  • 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).
  • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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 or Experience: A high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience.
  • English Language Proficiency: Pharmacy Technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).
  • Certification: Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-06 and above.
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:
GS-06
Experience: One year of experience at the GS-05 grade level and must fully meet the Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs) at the next lower level.
Certification: PTCB certification is required at this grade level and above.
In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSA's:
  1. Ability to solve problems and make recommendations, e.g., troubleshoot operational problems and refer for appropriate action.
  2. Knowledge of the operation and care of automated equipment.
  3. Knowledge of, and ability to follow, written instructions for compounding with aseptic technique for hazardous materials such as oncology agents.
  4. Knowledge, and ability to perform, compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products.
  5. Knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management in specialized areas such as emergency carts.
  6. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process demonstrated by the ability to input prescriptions and medication orders.
References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G28, Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standard dated March 17, 2006.

Preferred Experience:
  • Knowledge of pharmaceutical nomenclature.
  • Knowledge of operations and capabilities of automated dispensing systems.
  • Knowledge of laws, regulations and official policy concerning drug procurement and security.
  • Specialized technical working knowledge of sterile compounding techniques.
  • Knowledge to prepare complex solutions.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-06.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over), heavy carrying (45 pounds and over), straight pulling (up to 4 hours), pulling hand over hand (up to 4 hours), pushing (up to 4 hours), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (8-12 hours), standing (8-12 hours), kneeling (up to .5 hours), repeated bending (up to 4 hours), climbing with legs only (up to 1 hour), both legs required, operation of crane, truck, or motor vehicle; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near or far vision correctable at 13' to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors or shades of colors, hearing (aid permitted), demonstrated emotional and mental stability, drug free.
Environmental Factors: Outside and inside constant noise, dust, working around machinery with moving parts, working around moving objects or vehicles, working with hands in water, working closely with others; working alone, protracted or irregular hours of work, solvents and heat from equipment.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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, résumé, 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.

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.

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