Career Center

The Pharmacy Technician is under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. The incumbent is responsible on a rotating basis for provision of medications to hospitalized patients using the unit dose, Pyxis system, and IV admixture preparation. He/she may also perform inventory inspection, restocking, and ordering functions as well as providing necessary drug supplies to operating rooms, emergency department and ward drug stock areas. 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: U.S. citizenship. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education or Training. A high school diploma or equivalent; OR at least three (3) months experience. Certification. Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above. [NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR CURRENT CERTIFICATION WITH THE APPLICATION PACKAGE] Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: GS-6 Pharmacy Technician: A) Experience: One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-5 level which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities that are directly related to the specific assignment and fully meets all of the performance requirements for the GS-5 Pharmacy Technician. B) Certification: PTCB certification is required at this grade level. [NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR CURRENT CERTIFICATION WITH THE APPLICATION PACKAGE] C) In addition to meeting the basic requirements and grade determinations, applicant must demonstrate the following: Ability to solve problems and make recommendations, e.g., troubleshoot operational problems and refer for appropriate action. Knowledge of the operation and care of automated equipment. Knowledge of, and ability to follow, written instructions for compounding with aseptic technique for hazardous materials such as oncology agents. Knowledge, and ability to perform, compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products. Knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management in specialized areas such as emergency carts. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process demonstrated by the ability to input prescriptions and medication orders. References: VA Handbook 5005/16, Part II, Appendix G28 Pharmacy Technician Qualifications Standard, dated March 17, 2006, http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/Directives-Handbooks/Documents/5005.pdf Preferred Criteria: Possess recent Pharmacy Technician Inpatient experience within the past year. NOTE: 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 full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. Physical Requirements: Employees are typically expected to work varying work schedules. This may include nights, weekends and/or holidays as assigned. Principle duties require repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g., preparing IV admixtures, use of a computer keyboard, etc.). May require lifting and carrying light loads (up to 44lbs.), including boxes, equipment, unit dose-cassettes, and IV solutions; stooping or kneeling (e.g., to pick up items from the floor, remove and replace items on lower shelves, sitting, walking, or standing for long periods of time (4-8 hours). Normal ranges of hearing and vision are required to perform work and communicate effectively; must have the visual ability to distinguish between basic colors and shades of color. An ability to perform tasks requiring rapid mental and muscular coordination functions simultaneously is necessary. Must be physically capable of operating various types of equipment used for the job. ["Functions: Reads and interprets prescriptions; obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form; determines proper amount and counts, pours, or measures the medications; affixes proper label; and records required data on Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order. After a final check by a pharmacist, dispenses medication in ambulatory care, pass, or discharge situations. For unit dose medications, either fills unit dose cart or performs final review of medication prepared by another technician to be dispensed to inpatient areas. Inventories and replenishes medication trays for placement into emergency crash carts. Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes as assigned. iv. Operates and maintains pharmacy equipment to include automated unit dose dispensing equipment, Admixture compounders, and remote dispensing cabinets (e.g., Pyxis). Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile). This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used. Runs pick list for filling unit dose medication. Reports to pharmacist any pick list discrepancies for resolution. Enters doses dispensed into VISTA to reflect an accurate dispensing record for each patient. Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution. 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. Assists in total quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve services. Conducts monthly ward inspections of patient care areas. Maintains, verifies, stocks, and replaces outdates in patient care area automated dispensing machines (e.g., Pyxis) including applicable controls over scheduled medications. Order's inventory needs during procurement technician absence. This also includes placing stock in proper storage areas, rotating stock on shelves, and removing/replacing outdated items. Monitor's refrigerator temperature in inpatient care areas and daily in the pharmacy. After unit dose drawers are double checked, will deliver to the wards in a timely manner according to the pre-determined delivery schedule. He/she will also deliver stat medications to patient care areas as requested by supervising pharmacist. VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: Saturday-Sunday 6:00pm-6:00am (Rotational schedule/times may be required including holidays and/or weekends)\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nPCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]