The inpatient clinical pharmacy technician is a certified pharmacy technician at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System (WPBVAHCS). The employee will assist the pharmacist in providing optimal care and timely service in accordance with the mission, vision, and goals of the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System and Pharmacy.

Duties

Duties are, but not limited to: Duties related to stocking, delivering, inventory, inspections, assembling ward orders, prescription assembly, controlled substances distribution, sterile compounding (including hazardous drugs), unit-dose drug packaging, dispensing, distribution, and any other function related to pharmaceutical practices. The incumbent works independently to accomplish work objectives and provide exceptional customer service to customers, relying on the guidance and professional support of the pharmacist. Follows USP 797/800 Guidelines for the compounding of all sterile preparations, including ophthalmic, cardioplegic, hazardous, large & small volume IV solutions, PCAs, etc. Correctly interprets physician orders, 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 records of the manufacturing process, and supplies the product for pharmacist verification and delivery. Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared. Consistently displays competence with good manufacturing practices and sterile technique through demonstration and/or actual work performance. Follows proper aseptic preparation techniques when compounding sterile products. Performs necessary calculations to compound intravenous solutions and prescriptions. Appropriately maintains all quality assurance records in accordance with regulatory requirements. 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. Utilizes, cleans and maintains a variety of complex Pharmacy equipment including tablet counters, laminar flow hoods, scales, pumps, unit dose packaging equipment, ADCs, etc. Accurately and efficiently utilizes all automated pharmacy systems. Automated pharmacy systems include, but are not limited to prepacking system, and Pyxis. Inputs, manipulates, view and prints data from the VISTA data-base as needed, to process workload. Replenishes crash cart trays, emergency kits, etc. in a timely manner. Completes and maintains all required documentation/logs. Uses and maintains ATP Profile machine. Makes configuration changes, change in drugs to make the machine run more efficiently. Inspects packaged items for accuracy and suitability before submitting for final check, prior to distribution to hospital areas. Assures repackaged dosage forms are labeled according to USP and VA standards and attains a final review by a pharmacist. Maintains repackaging records that assures all regulatory and review standards are met. Fills and dispenses unit dose medication (first doses and replenishment). Incumbent assumes responsibility for incorrect dispensing activity. Fills individual patient medication drawer using computer generated Medication Administration Records independently. Fills unit dose medication carts, carefully monitoring drug, form of drug, dose, and amount to dispense. Identifies discrepancies between "VISTA pick list and usual dosing patterns, and notifies pharmacist of potential error (i.e. pick list order for digoxin 0.25mg qid, instead of the usual qd.) 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. Prepacks medication from bulk stock to unit dose using the pharmacy prepacking equipment as well as manual processes. Performs bulk compounding, including oral and topical preparations. Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile) independently. Prepares and fills outpatient prescriptions for pharmacist review for both controlled and non-controlled medications when the outpatient pharmacy is closed. Trouble-shoots minor mechanical problems of all automated systems as they occur and coordinates resolution of more involved mechanical or software problems with Supervisor, vendor help desk, ADPAC, etc. as appropriate. Assists in the training and orientation of newly hired technicians, interns and students. Reviews, fills and dispenses ward stock orders, assuring quantities requested are consistent with established levels. Delivers ward stock orders in a timely manner. For safety, security, and cost control reasons it is imperative that stock be appropriately received and placed into storage areas. All pharmacy personnel are responsible for putting stock away in its proper storage areas. Work Schedule: Rotating shifts (including: days, nights, evenings, weekends, and holidays). Telework: Not available Functional Statement #: 41219F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized 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. (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). Details on grandfathering are listed in the Assessment Questionnaire section of this announcement. 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/159 PART II APPENDIX G28 Dated: 11/7/2023. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 7. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/ carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies and bending/stooping/stretching.

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 West Palm Beach VA Medical Center 7305 North Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL 33410 US
• Name: Kristen L. Johnson
• Phone: 813-816-7155 X100172
• Email: [email protected]