The Pharmacy Technician Full Time will work in in the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in the Bronx, New York and works in the Pharmacy Department. The Pharmacy Technician possess the skills to perform a full range of technical pharmacy duties as well as associated administrative duties which include processing and filling outpatient prescriptions. This is an Open and Continuous Announcement.

Duties

Lists the major duties and responsibilities of the position: 1. Read 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 or discharge situations. 2. 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. 3. Compounds sterile products, both uncomplicated and complicated, and those associated with a high degree of toxicity such as chemotherapeutic drugs by following manufacturing practices and aseptic techniques meeting USP 797 and USP 800 requirements. 4. Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications without a second review. This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used. 5. Performs final verification of simple non-sterile compounds prepared by lower-level technicians. 6. Dispenses ward stock according to par levels. Rotates stock and checks expirations dates when delivering stock. 7. Dispenses controlled substances in accordance with all policies and laws governing the receipt, storage and control of these drugs when called upon to do so. 8. Conducts monthly ward inspections of patient care areas. 9. Inventories and replenishes emergency carts without a second review. 10. Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes working in conjunction with the inpatient supervisor and QM pharmacist. 11. Operates automated dispensing equipment to accomplish dispensing function. Prepackages medication using safe work practices. 12. According to policies and procedures monitors inventory needs in-patient care areas and relays this information to the appropriate Pharmacy personal. This also includes placing stock in proper storage areas, rotating stock on shelves, and removing/replacing outdated items. 13. Assists in other patient care areas as deemed necessary to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services. 14. Applies safe handling when using hazardous materials including P and U listed waste and references the Material Safety Data Sheets. 15. Conveys pharmacy policies and procedures to all customers when asked or needed. 16. Documents activities as required by policy or law in the time frames specified. 17. Performs all required tasks using the hospital-based computer system as per the policies for computer security and patient confidentiality. 18. Resolves routine patient care issues that are consistent with their responsibilities by adhering to medical center and service security policies. 19. Protects inventory from waste, fraud and diversion while working in a high security area. 20. Provides technical assistance and problem-solving support to all customers with a view towards accomplishing the service mission. 21. Recognizes physical, mental and behavioral changes that may be age related and are barriers to drug therapy compliance and reports findings to the provider or pharmacist when necessary. Performs other related duties as assigned. VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts including weekends, evening and holidays Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: This is not a Telework position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 21M09A Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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: 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. None required. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment in paragraph 5, VA HR staff must use the following criteria to determine the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. Pharmacy Technician, GS-06: (1)Education or Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level. (2) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice. (b) Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation. (c) Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment. (d) Knowledge of basic inventory procedures.(e) Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel. Assignments: Pharmacy technicians at the full performance level may fill orders, dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs. Duties will include delivery of medications to floors/patients, filling medications for the pharmacist to review, checking for expired medications, answering phones with appropriate disposition, preparing sterile products (when applicable) and assisting with basic inventory management such as putting up stock and identifying when medications need to be ordered. Preferred Experience: Sterile and Hazardous Compounding experience preferred References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/159 PART II APPENDIX G28, dated November 7, 2023 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 6. Physical Requirements: Work requires long periods of sitting, standing and walking, bending, twisting, and carrying items up to 25lbs. Fine motor skills for the manipulation of products are also required.

Education

IMPORTANT: There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address Bronx VA Medical Center 130 West Kingsbridge Rd. Bronx, NY 10468 US
• Name: Aleni Salcedo
• Phone: 917 859 9405
• Email: [email protected]