The Pharmacy Technician will work under the supervision of the CSP program manager or supervisory pharmacist and sill consistently demonstrate independent technical judgment and comprehensive working knowledge of sterile preparation for both hazardous and non-hazardous medications.

Duties

Performs an essential role in the preparation, compounding, dispensing, and distribution of sterile and nonsterile hazardous medication within designated sterile compounding areas. Receives, reviews, and prepares physician orders for cytotoxic agents and pre-medications. Performs accurate product identification, labeling, dosage calculation, and compounding of agent by utilizing package literature, and written procedural guidelines. Generates proper product identification labeling and assigns accurate stability and handling information. Includes any additional information to ensure safety and efficacy to the patient and other handlers of the product. Successfully completes assignments and maintains annual competencies to compound hazardous and non-hazardous IV sterile preparations according to USP, and standards. Follows proper aseptic preparation techniques when compounding hazardous and non-hazardous medications. Cleans and decontaminates the compounding are following processes and procedures outlined in the cleaning SOP. Reviews anticipated inventory needs and notifies procurement technician in a timely manner of products required. Assists in maintaining all required records related to sterile compounding. Receives hazardous IV chemotherapy inventory stock according to USP and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) guidelines placing in proper storage areas, rotating stock on shelves, and removing/replacing outdated items. Maintains Chemo/IV room medication inventory, compounding supplies, and cleaning products to ensure availability and minimize waste. Conducts daily, weekly, and monthly IV room cleaning including checking for soon to expire medications. Manufactures uncomplicated and/or complicated parenteral admixtures to be delivered in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe, or other as required. Prepares sterile ophthalmic preparations and other complex sterile pharmaceutical such as total parenteral alimentations and cardioplegia solutions. Assists in the non-hazardous IV sterile suite as needed. Participates in biannual glove fingertip and media fill testing and maintains competencies passing didactic practical skill assessment initially and annually thereafter. Ensures full compliance with regulatory requirements (VHA, Joint Commission, USP , , , EPA, OSHA, NIOSH, and FDA). Assists in maintaining a training /education manual for the focus area assigned. Provides training to new or existing staff so that these competencies are maintained. Ability to evaluate, analyze, and coordinate workflow independently in the assigned area. Performs all the duties of lower-grade technicians, if required. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Including rotations and varied tours). Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

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. English Language Proficiency: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d) Education or Experience: None required. 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 (GS-7 and above): For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). National Health career Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). Grandfather Provision. A Pharmacy Technician employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (11/7/2023) 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. GS-8 Grade Determination: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-8 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7). Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical 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.) 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. References: Former VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G28 Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standard, GS-0661, dated November 7, 2023. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. 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 50 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 Bruce W Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1201 Northwest 16th Street Miami, FL 33125 US
• Name: Carla Burton
• Phone: 216-272-5554
• Email: [email protected]