The Pharmacy Technician - Compounded Sterile Products position is performed in the sterile compounding areas and accompanying areas of the inpatient pharmacy section at OBVAMC. The incumbent is a highly specialized technician, who is under the direct supervision of the Pharmacy Technician Supervisor with guidance from the Compounded Sterile Products (CSP) Program Manager and/or Inpatient Pharmacy Manager and is responsible for the preparation of sterile compounds handled by Pharmacy.

Duties

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 The CSP Pharmacy Technician will perform sterile compounding functions to ensure timely and accurate patient care is provided to our Veterans. In addition, the incumbent will comply with all regulatory requirements associated with sterile compounding. Most duties will be performed in the intravenous (IV) cleanroom suite, and/or segregated compounding areas and include compounding sterile products for dispensing, making appropriate record entries, reviewing IV administration records, and assisting inspectors, review teams, and other staff during routine inquires and inspections. Duties include but not limited to: Using aseptic technique, compounding both complicated and uncomplicated parenteral admixtures in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe or another modality as required. Preparing sterile ophthalmic preparations and other complex sterile pharmaceuticals such as total parenteral nutrition. Correctly interprets orders, selects, and measures appropriate ingredients, mixes ingredients in an aseptic and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy prior to the pharmacist's final check, labels the product, maintains records of sterile compounds, 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 needles, syringes, and various compounding supplies, etc. Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment including but not limited to, Automated Dispensing System (ADS), Automated Sterile Compounding Equipment, and Primary Engineering Controls. Ensures that the IV cleanrooms and segregated compounding areas are cleaned appropriately, and all logs are completed for daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning. 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 patient safety issue. Performs accurate product selection, dosage calculations, and compounding of agents utilizing package literature, written procedural guidelines and application of specialized knowledge. Generates proper product identification labeling and assigns 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. Performs monthly inspections for outdated medications and supplies 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. Education/Training. Participates in the training and orientation of pharmacy staff. Maintains and improves professional competency by keeping up with information on new medications and innovations in pharmacy practices. Remains up to date on all Talent Management System (TMS) training. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 6:00 am - 2:30 pm with some weekends, holidays and hours outside of Tour of Duty Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Telework: Ad Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00489-F 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). Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician, GS-08 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-08 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated: (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. Pharmacy Technician. Pharmacy technicians in this assignment specialize in areas such as sterile compounding, oncology, controlled substances, medication history review, clinical specialist (anticoagulation, pain, infectious diseases), clinical informatics, automation, immunizations and any other specialized area in the advancement of the profession. The pharmacy technician will serve as a subject matter expert and key resource in the day-to-day technician duties of the specialized area. The technician will be performing assignments such as compounding sterile products, filling controlled substance prescriptions while maintaining compliance with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regulations, taking medication histories and counseling patients, managing automation, managing workflow and training and orienting staff in the specialized area. Preferred Experience: Sterile Compounding Experience References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/159 PART II APPENDIX G28, November 07, 2023 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

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 Overton Brooks VA Medical Center 510 East Stoner Avenue Shreveport, LA 71101 US
• Name: Theresa Morehart
• Phone: 501-522-4386
• Email: [email protected]