The Inpatient Pharmacy Technician reports directly to the Inpatient Pharmacy Technician Supervisor. Duties include, but are not limited to the following: prescription filling and delivery, maintaining automated pharmacy equipment, unit dose packaging, compounding sterile admixtures, including chemotherapy, and dispensing controlled substances.

Duties

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. For unit-dose medications, performs final review of medication when prepared by another technician, to be dispensed to inpatient areas (med-carts, ward stock), and/or fills unit-dose carts independently without secondary review when necessary. Prepares inpatient drug orders including all medicinal dosage forms such as chemotherapy, intravenous admixtures, oral solids, etc., according to established procedures and protocols. Inventories and replenishes emergency carts. Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes as assigned. Operates and maintains pharmacy equipment. Transports medications to off-site locations using government-owned vehicles. 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. 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. 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. Conducts periodic inspections of patient care areas. Maintains, verifies, stocks, and replaces outdates in automated dispensing machines, pharmacy carousels, and pharmacy storage areas. Monitors inventory needs in patient care areas and relays this information to the appropriate Pharmacy personnel. This also includes placing stock in proper storage areas, rotating stock on shelves, and removing/replacing outdated items. Assists with inventory management and ordering of medicines. Work Schedule: Full Time; Monday-Friday day shift (0700-1530) with rotating weekend and holiday responsibilities. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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: Experience: One year of experience at the next lower level, and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level. In addition must be able to demonstrate the following 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. Preferred Experience: One year as a Pharmacy Technician with sterile compounding experience. References: VA Handbook 5005/15 Part II Appendix G28. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. Physical Requirements: The position is active with work being performed in the inpatient pharmacy and sterile compounding suite with adequate lighting and ventilation. Periods of walking, standing, light to moderate lifting, and driving may be required.

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 Richard L Roudebush VA Medical Center 1481 West Tenth Street Indianapolis, IN 46202 US
• Name: Eileen Archer
• Phone: 463-867-6722
• Email: [email protected]