This position is assigned to the inpatient pharmacy located within the VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Hampton VA Medical Center, Pharmacy Service. This position is for a certified pharmacy technician above the GS-6 full performance level at the Hampton VA Healthcare System. Pharmacy technicians at this level can work autonomously, using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. 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: Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). 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: 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 Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). 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). 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. Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician, GS-07 Experience. One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the lower grade level (GS-06). Certification. For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: PTCB as a CPhT. NHA as a ExCPT. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated: Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts, and theories providing for sound independent work. Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent. Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other member of the healthcare team, Veterans, and external customers. Ability to train new pharmacy technicians and students. Ability to dispense medications or sterile products following all regulations, policies, and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution. Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases. Preferred Experience: Knowledge of Inpatient Pharmacy processes. Reference: VA Handbook 5005/159, Part II, Appendix G28; Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standards dated November 07, 2023. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements: Physical requirements for this position are as follows: Light lifting, 15-25 pounds with occasional heavier lifting. Light carrying, 15-25 pounds with occasional heavier carrying. Straight pulling (up to 2 hours). Pushing (up to 2 hours). Reaching above shoulder. Use of fingers. Repeated bending. Walking (up to 8 hours). Standing (up to 8 hours). Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as needed. ["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 Duties of the position include, but are not limited to: General Accurately interpret, fills, and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and or medical supplies for pharmacist verification. Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition by ensuring that all stock and equipment are in assigned places and all shelves and counters are free of dust and debris to create optimal work areas. Ensures drugs and supplies are appropriately stored and secured according to USP and VA guidelines, including the storage of high-risk, look a-like sound a-like, hazardous, controlled substances, corrosive chemical, flammable liquids, and refrigerated items. Receives, checks, rotates, and places in stock all items received from pharmacy procurement section and identifies and reconciles any discrepancies to ensure correct items have been received. Utilizes automation dispensing equipment available to the pharmacy staff following all safety and QA procedures. Reports automation malfunctions timely the supervisor as appropriate. Records expiration dates in the automatic prescription dispensing system upon receipt. Perform monthly inspections to assigned areas to ensure proper storage of medications and soon to expired drugs are removed. Completes inspection reports in compliance with regulatory requirements. Extemporaneously compounds and/or reconstitutes sterile product preparations. This includes calculating and compounding applicable dosage concentrations of compounded drugs or solutions for final pharmacist verification. Resolves pharmacy/medication issues and functions as first-line telephone with other members of the healthcare team, veterans, and external customers. Addresses telephone requests in a timely and courteous fashion, processing, for exam pie, refill request, etc. Forwards calls beyond the technician's scope to a pharmacist or supervisor. Sterile Product Compounding These functions will be supported assisting in or the absence of the sterile compounding technician (i.e., after hours, weekends, and leave). Follow USP 797/800 Guidelines and VHA Directive 1108.12 for the compounding of all sterile preparations. Compounds uncomplicated and/or complicated parenteral admixtures to be delivered in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe or other as required. Correctly interprets physician orders, selects, and measures appropriate medications for compounding, compounds ingredient components in a sterile and competent manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process, and attains a final check by a pharmacist. Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration or beyond use date for each product prepared. Consistently displays competence with good compounding practices and sterile technique through demonstration and/or actual work performance. Follows proper aseptic preparation techniques when compounding sterile products. Appropriately maintains all quality assurance records in accordance with regulatory requirements. Unit Dose Medication Management Performs review of medications prepared by another pharmacy employee to be dispensed to hospital areas. Inventories and replenishes OR and surgical area trays, RSI Kits, etc. Operates and maintains automated dispensing unit dose systems, Kitcheck, repackaging software. Automatic Replenishment/Ward Stock Correctly inventories, assesses, and determines the need for floor stock and external medication. Follows established policies and procedures, schedules, inventory levels, and usage rate reports to determine appropriate stock levels for specific areas of use. Accurately fills prescription items for wards using Automatic Replenishment reports. Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts; Days, Evenings, Weekends, Holidays; Based on the needs of the service. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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"]
