The Pharmacy Service is looking to hire Pharmacy Technicians on an Intermittent (work as needed basis) to provide technical support in the patient care area, under the supervision of a registered pharmacist in Asheville, North Carolina local and surrounding commuting area. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. Announcement will remain open and applications will be accepted on an on going basis until vacant positions are filled or until 12/29/2023, whichever comes first.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The Pharmacy Technician duties include, but are not limited to: 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, performs final review of medication (prepared by another technician) to be dispensed to inpatient areas (unit-dose carts), and/or fills unit-dose carts independently without secondary review. Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes. Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment. After prescription/order(s) are reviewed by a pharmacist for therapeutic propriety, reviews orders for technical accuracy and converts the order, if necessary, so that the item dispensed corresponds to the drug and dose ordered. Enters correct drug, strength, dosage form, and quantity into the patient's medication profile (DHCP or otherwise). Someone authorized to verify accuracy subsequently reviews the medication profile for accuracy. Performs final verification of simple, non-sterile compounds prepared by lower level technicians. 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. Monitors inventory needs in-patient care areas, relays this information to the Procurement Pharmacy Technician. Orders inventory needs during his/her absence. This also includes placing stock in proper storage areas, rotating stock on shelves, and removing/replacing outdated items. Monitors refrigerator temperature on a daily basis in-patient care areas. Assists in other patient care areas as deemed necessary to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services. Work Schedule: Intermittent ( as needed), days, evenings, weekends, holidays. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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. 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. 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-6 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: Certification: PTCB certification is required at this grade level and above. KSAs: 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, Part II, Appendix G28. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. Preferred Experience: Experience as a Pharmacy Technician in inpatient/outpatient hospital setting within the past 12 months. PTCB required. Physical Requirements: This position may involve potentially extended periods of sitting, standing, carrying of items weighting up to 20 pounds; i.e., files, medical records, and manuals. In general, the work does not require special physical demands.

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 Charles George VA Medical Center 1100 Tunnel Road Asheville, NC 28805 US
• Name: Hilda Cobb
• Phone: (919) 408-1864
• Email: [email protected]