The incumbent is responsible for assisting in providing and coordinating complete pharmaceutical care activities in the Inpatient Pharmacy and provides coverage in the Outpatient Pharmacy as needed and other medication-related areas in agreement with the mission, vision, and goals of the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (VASNHCS).

Duties

The incumbent is required to carry a VA issued phone, pager, or other form of electronic communication device all times while on active duty to enable full communication with other hospital staff and pharmacy team. As required and assigned, the technician can function in the role of a pharmacy technician completing normal duties related to ordering, stocking, delivering, inventory inspections, prescription set ups, sterile and non-sterile compounding, and drug packaging, dispensing, and distribution in addition to controlled substance technical duties and responsibilities. The technician works to support the pharmacist, VA and VHA mission, and Veterans in our system. Functions A. Accurate Controlled Substance Accountability: 1. All controlled substances in the section are secured and controlled according to applicable laws, rules and regulations and department policy. Accurate physical count, documentation, and administrative requirements (per VA Handbook 1108.1) are consistently and thoroughly maintained. Compliance is evidenced by supervisor review and reports of incidents provided to the supervisor. 2. Medication orders for controlled substances are filled accurately in accordance with current department, state and federal laws/regulations for check by a pharmacist before dispensing to the patient or patient care area. Compliance is evidenced by supervisor review and reports of incidents received by the supervisor. 3. Controlled substance discrepancies are resolved in a thorough and timely manner. Unresolved discrepancies are reported immediately to the supervisory pharmacist for resolution and to the VA Police if still unresolved after supervisory review. Compliance evidenced by supervisor review and review of Police reports submitted. 4. Complete inventories for all controlled substances are performed accurately, timely and in accordance with VA Handbook 1108.1. Compliance is evidenced by supervisor review of completed controlled substance inventories, and reports of incidents received by the supervisor. 5. Controlled substance inventory is managed to minimize expired or excess stock of controlled substances. All incoming controlled substance stock is accurately and completely checked against vendor's invoices to ensure that the correct items have been received intact and are not expired. Problems are reported to the prime vendor and pharmacy supervisor in a timely manner. Compliance is evidenced by supervisor review of invoice acceptance into the ViSTA Controlled Substance package and reports of incidents received by the supervisor. 6. Controlled substances brought in by patients are disposed of in compliance with current laws, regulations and VASNHCS directives. 7. All controlled substance deliveries (e.g., IV medications, discharge medications, pyxis replenishment, etc.) to nursing units/clinics are done accurately and in a timely manner. Signed documentation of the chain of custody is obtained as evidenced by documentation of receipts which are returned to pharmacy. 8. When assigned, unusable controlled substances are processed for destruction in accordance with policies and procedures. This includes preparing the proper paperwork, completing DEA Form 41, and adhering to all DEA requirements. Compliance is evidenced by supervisor review or report of incidents received by the supervisor. 9. All controlled substance documents (e.g., release slips, invoices, balance adjustment reports, inspection reports, destruction reports, green sheets, etc.) are filed and maintained accordingly as evidenced by supervisor review. VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: 0700-1530,, may be subject to change to meet staffing and patient care needs. Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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. Certification. Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above. Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. 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. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. ? 7401(3) under this provision leaves that 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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). Preferred Experience: Pharmacy Procurement with pyxis experience preferred. Grade Determinations:GS-7 Experience. One year experience at the next lower level and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities* 1. Ability to evaluate, analyze workflow, and coordinate work activities. 2. Ability to independently gather, evaluate, and analyze data to generate reports and/or for other projects/statistical purposes. 3. Knowledge of pharmacy policies and procedures sufficient to train and orient new employees and other staff. 4. Comprehensive knowledge of the operation and care of specialized pharmaceutical equipment. 5. Comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process. 6. Comprehensive knowledge of investigational drug policies and procedures. 7. Comprehensive knowledge of controlled substance policies and procedures, and the ability to identify and investigate discrepancies in these policies and procedures. 8. Comprehensive knowledge of, and ability to, analyze data in VA information systems. Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level may be assigned as a supervisor; lead technician in a particular area of the pharmacy; a controlled substance technician; an investigational drug technician; a procurement/inventory management technician; a clinical pharmacy technician; or similar assignment with this level of complexity. The GS-7 level is for select, complex pharmacy technician positions, as established by each health care facility. To be advanced, employees must meet all of the following standards, provided the standard is part of their assignment. Determinations concerning placement of positions at this grade level shall take into consideration the skill mix and the availability of supervision in the work unit. Although these positions are under the supervision of a pharmacist, employees in such settings successfully and consistently demonstrate the exercise of independent technical judgment (without the need for readily available supervision) as well as comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of the most complex or difficult practices and procedures. Such individuals may also serve as leaders or co-leaders in a Pharmacy Service or for a specific unit or section. References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G28, Pharmacy Technician Qualification, GS-661,dated March 17, 2006. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (3 hours); Standing (4 hours); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted).

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.

Contacts

• Address VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System 975 Kirman Avenue Reno, NV 89502 US
• Name: Lizbeth Torres
• Phone: (415) 221-4810 X24760
• Email: [email protected]