Pharmacy Technician - IV Room Sterile Product Preparation This position functions as a specialized IV room Pharmacy Technician primarily in the Pharmacy Service within the VA Central Iowa Health Care System. This occupational series is eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program. Repayment is limited to $10,000 annually, up to $60,000 in lifetime awards. Participants must sign a service agreement and maintain an acceptable level of performance to remain eligible for this program.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Duties include, but are not limited to: Admixes uncomplicated and/or complicated parenteral admixtures to be delivered in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe, TPN or other modality as required. May be assigned responsibility for admixing sterile pharmaceuticals that are associated with a high degree of toxicity such as antineoplastic / hazardous agents. Prepares sterile ophthalmic preparations and other complex sterile pharmaceuticals such as total parenteral nutrition. Correctly selects and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability and elegance, labels the product per service process, maintains records of the admixing process and supplies the product for delivery. Uses the service process to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared. Consistently displays competence with good admixing practices and sterile technique through demonstration and/or actual work performance. Operates and maintains automated pharmacy equipment. B. Duties may include but are not limited to: i. Correctly interprets pharmacy label, selects and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability, and elegance, labels the product, maintains the appropriate records of the manufacturing process and prepares the product for delivery. Follows procedures outlined from the policies to determine an accurate expiration date for each product prepared generating proper product identification labeling and assigning accurate stability and handling information. Includes any additional information to ensure safety and efficacy to the patient and other handlers of the product. Completes all mandatory required trainings in a timely manner. Applies safe handling when using hazardous material and can reference the Material Safety Data Sheets. Stocking and maintaining the Pharmacy Service oncology preparation areas, reviewing anticipated inventory needs and notifying the procurement technician in a timely manner, rotating stock, and advising pharmacist of potential issues. Ensuring the oncology preparation areas and equipment are clean, maintained, and in good working order, as well as communicating any needs. Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition by assuring that all stock and equipment are in assigned places and all shelves and counters are free of dust and debris in order to create optimal work areas. Assist with training of pharmacy staff, residents, and students in safe and aseptic handling techniques within the area. Ensure, upon completion of oncology duties, you report to your immediate supervisor for assignment in other areas of the pharmacy, such as the inpatient area of the department. Admixes all products requiring compounding, whether made in large batches for more than one patient or in small batches to fill a single prescription or drug order. Prepares parenteral products for the Automatic Replenishment restocking Follows established policies and procedures, schedules, inventory levels, and usage rate reports to determine appropriate stock levels for specific areas of use. Accurately fills prescription items for areas throughout the medical center using the Active Med Report or on-demand requests by selecting correct drug, strength, and dosage form including but not limited to controlled substances. Assures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP/NF guidelines. Completes material management activities independently. Maintains a detailed comprehensive knowledge of accreditation standards and applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures and other instructions governing control and distribution of sterile products. Comprehensive knowledge of the procurement and formulary process. Comprehensive knowledge of the operation and care of specialized pharmaceutical equipment. Knowledgeable in United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 797/800/795, Pharmacy Law, VHA Directives, and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations as they relate to practice within the VA Healthcare System and its organizational elements. Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday-Friday with rotating weekend/holidays Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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: (1) None required. (2) For all grade levels and positions that accept both education and experience to qualify, equivalent combinations of qualifying education and experience that total at least 100% are qualifying. The combined percentage is determined by adding total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level to the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level. Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR (2) National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). English Language Proficiency: Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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-8 Pharmacy Technician Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-7. This experience includes, but is not limited to: Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work; Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent; Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers; Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students; Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution; Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases. AND Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: PTCB as a CPhT. OR NHA as a ExCPT. AND Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs. (a) Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding, controlled substances, automation, clinical pharmacy, contact center, etc.) Note: See Specialized Area.in the Definitions Section. (b) Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures. (c) Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy. Preferred Experience: 1 year or more experience working as a Pharmacy Technician at the GS-7 level or above References: VA HANDBOOK PART II APPENDIX G28 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Grandfathering Provision. Pharmacy technicians employed in VHA 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 in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) 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. (3) 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. (4) Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. (5) 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.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VA Central Iowa Health Care System 3600 30th St Des Moines, IA 50310 US
• Name: Adam Abbott
• Phone: 612-629-7067
• Email: [email protected]