This position functions primarily in the Inpatient Section of Pharmacy Service, and more specifically, is directly involved in the unit dose management system, which requires extensive knowledge of Pharmaceuticals and Pharmacy practice.

Duties

Inpatient Pharmacy technicians have expanded duties above the full performance level. This includes complex duties such as the ability to follow written instructions and using aseptic technique in compounding non-hazardous medications and hazardous materials such as oncology agents. Inpatient Pharmacy technicians have the ability to solve problems and troubleshoot operational issues. Duties are, but not limited to: Compounds sterile (IV) products using aseptic technique, including, hazardous and antineoplastic. Fills and dispenses unit dose medication (first doses and replenishment). Incumbent assumes responsibility for incorrect dispensing activity. Prepares and fills outpatient prescriptions for pharmacist review for both controlled and non-controlled medications when the outpatient pharmacy is closed. Replenishes crash cart trays, emergency kits, etc. in a timely manner. Completes and maintains all required documentation/logs. Reviews, fills and dispenses ward stock orders, assuring quantities requested are consistent with established levels. Monitors ward stock usage rates (via VISTA ARWS cost reports), to prevent drug shortages due to increased use. Fills unit dose medication carts, carefully monitoring drug, form of drug, dose, and amount to dispense. Identifies discrepancies. Prepacks medication from bulk stock to unit dose using the pharmacy prepacking equipment (ex. TCGRx) as well as manual processes. Performs monthly ward and clinic inspections to ensure proper storage of medications. Performs bulk compounding, including oral and topical preparations. Prepares required records for extemporaneous compounding and reports atypical occurrences regarding change in color, consistency, etc. Assists in the training and orientation of newly hired technicians, interns and students. Uses and maintains ATP Profile machine. Makes configuration changes, change in drugs to make the machine run more efficiently. 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. Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment. Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile) independently. Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution. Assists in total quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve services. Performs all the duties of lower graded technicians, if required. Works independently to accomplish work objectives relying on the guidance and professional support of the pharmacist or technician supervisor assigned, to coordinate the area in which the technician is functioning. Delivers and picks-up items from all areas of the hospital as needed. Keeps all required records accurately and completely, manually or via competent, skilled use of appropriate computer programs. Answers telephones, screens calls, and provides requested information in a courteous, professional manner to patients and other hospital personnel. Utilizes, cleans and maintains a variety of complex Pharmacy equipment including tablet counters, laminar flow hoods, scales, pumps, unit dose packaging equipment, ADCs, etc. Performs necessary calculations to compound intravenous solutions and prescriptions. Inputs, manipulates, view and prints data from the VISTA data-base as needed, to process workload. Correctly prepares labels for IV solutions, prescriptions prepackaging, etc. and other materials as needed. Communicates with other health care professionals to clarify orders and determine medication needs. Plans and organizes workload to meet demand. Restocks working areas, rotating stock to ensure the first products to expire are used first. Maintains work area in neat, orderly fashion. Fills individual patient medication drawer using computer generated Medication Administration Records independently. Restocks and maintains pick-stations used with the Unit Dose system. Prepares and delivers medications, including narcotics, for the Pyxis machines as determined by daily Pyxis stock out, refill, and other various reports. Accurately and efficiently utilizes all automated pharmacy systems. Automated pharmacy systems include, but are not limited to TCGRx prepacking system, TPN compounder, and Pyxis. Cleans all IV ante and clean rooms per USP 797/800 standards. Cleaning includes daily duties of cleaning the exteriors of sharp containers, waste receptacles, hazardous waste bins and placing them outside of IV room for pick up. Mopping floors. Weekly duties include cleaning windows, walls, and all horizontal surfaces. Clean and sanitize storage shelving. Monthly duties include cleaning ceilings. Work Schedule: Rotating shifts including weekdays, weekends, holidays, and overnights. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
• 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: a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) b. Education or Experience. A high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience. c. Certification. Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above. You MUST submit this document with your application documents. d. Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/ registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/ registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) at all grade levels, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists. For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) in assignments above the full-performance level only, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may remain at an appropriate lower grade level in the occupation when both of the following apply: the credential is not a requirement and a placement opportunity exists. e. 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. f. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. g. 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. Grade Determination: NOTE-This position is above the Full Performance Level (FPL). GS-6 (a) Experience. One year experience at the next lower (GS-5) grade level (experience at next lower grade includes the following KSAs (must be demonstrated on your resume)1. Ability to operate and care for automated dispensing devices and equipment.2. Knowledge of, and ability to perform, aseptic technique.3. Knowledge of basic inventory procedures.4. Knowledge of pharmacy information systems).In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): (b) Certification. PTCB certification is required at this grade level and above. You MUST submit documentation of this certification. (c) GS-6 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities1. 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. (d) Assignments. Pharmacy technicians may be assigned to any area of the pharmacy including expanded distributive function assignments; for example, assignment as team leaders for specific process improvement teams involving technical areas or performing more highly complex duties including preparation of oncology agents for clinical pharmacy specialists. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G28. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing at least 50 lbs., and bending, stooping, and crawling. Incumbent must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the duties of the position.

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 West Palm Beach VA Medical Center 7305 North Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL 33410 US
• Name: Kristen L. Johnson
• Phone: 443-531-8426
• Email: [email protected]