Job opening: Pharmacy Technician - Sterile IV Compounding
Salary: $54 292 - 70 578 per year
Published at: Feb 06 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
The Oklahoma City VA Healthcare System, Pharmacy service, is recruiting for one (1) Pharmacy Technician - Sterile IV Compounding.
Duties
VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws
The duties of this position are performed in the sterile product preparation suite and accompanying storage areas of the inpatient pharmacy section at the OKCVAMC Department of Pharmacy service. The incumbent is a highly specialized technician, who, under the authority of the Pharmacy Supervisor, Compound Sterile Products (CSP) program manager or designee is responsible for the preparation of sterile products handled by pharmacy. The CSP pharmacy technician will perform sterile compounding functions to ensure timely and accurate patient care is provided. In addition, will comply with all regulatory requirements associated with sterile compounding.
The duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
Compounded Sterile Products
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.
Using aseptic technique, compounds both complicated and uncomplicated parenteral admixtures in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe or another modality as required.
Prepares sterile ophthalmic preparations and other complex sterile pharmaceuticals such as total parenteral nutrition and cardioplegia solutions.
Correctly interprets orders, selects, and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in an aseptic and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability, and elegance, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process, and supplies the product for delivery.
Understands specific handling considerations for storage, distribution, and disposal of medications.
Consistently displays competence with good aseptic technique manufacturing practices through demonstration and/or actual work performance.
Technical working knowledge of equipment and supplies used in compounding sterile products including but not limited to admixing pumps, needles, syringes, and various compounding supplies, etc.
Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment including but not limited to Omnicell /Pyxis , laminar flow hoods, total parental nutrition (TPN) compounder, repeater pumps, etc.)
Uses knowledge, skills, and abilities to resolve questionable orders or situations to ensure quality of care. Contacts pharmacists to obtain clarification for prescriptions/orders or any situation that presents a possible hazard to patient care.
Performing accurate product selection, dosage calculations and compounding of agents utilizing package literature, written procedural guidelines and application of specialized knowledge.
Generating of proper product identification labeling and assigning accurate stability and handling information. Labeling also includes appropriate auxiliary information to ensure safety and efficacy to the patient and other handlers of the product.
Other Duties
Performs daily refrigerator and or freezer temperature checks and/or monthly inspections for outdates according to local policy and standard operating procedures.
Assists in other patient care areas as deemed necessary to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services.
Participates and assists in patient care activities during emergency situations, (i.e., major disasters)
Ensures that all facility mandatory training (e.g., fire and safety, prevention of sexual harassment, customer service, prevention of violence in the workplace, etc.) are accomplished within established timetables and properly documented in service training files.
Must maintain training requirements, national pharmacy technician certification and meet annual competencies required for the position.
Green Environmental Management Services (GEMS)
Familiarizes self with how his/her activities impact VA's goal to implement sound stewardship practices that are protective of the air, water, land, and other natural and cultural resources. In accordance with the goals of the VA GEMS program, seeks to cost-effectively meet or exceed compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local environmental; public health; and resource protection laws, regulations, and VA requirements. Seeks to incorporate practices necessary to implement the requirements of Executive Order 13423, "Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management."
Work Schedule: Various tours (6:00am - 2:30pm, 7:00am - 3:30pm, 8:00am - 4:30pm, and others based on the needs of the service) This includes rotations on weekends and holidays.
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 59040-A
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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.
Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States.
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).
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:
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.
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 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.
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.
English Language Proficiency. Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English.
GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for appointment, VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.
Pharmacy Technician, GS-8
Experience. Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level and demonstrate the KSAs below.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-8 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated:
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.
Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures.
Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy.
References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/159 PART II APPENDIX G28
This vacancy is for a GS-8 position, which is above the full performance level.
Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 50 lb., and bending/stooping. Work is typically performed in a clinical setting that exposes incumbent to communicable diseases, biohazards, hazardous chemicals, and hazardous medications common in a health care environment. Such exposure will be mitigated in accordance with local policies and operating procedures as per USP 800 standards, OSHA guidance and local risk assessment practices. Standard safety precautions and PPE are required and specified per local policies. Some work is performed in a setting away from the pharmacy where the environment cannot be controlled.
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 Oklahoma City VA Health Care System
921 Northeast 13th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
US
- Name: Travis Green
- Phone: 303-202-8679
- Email: [email protected]
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