Pharmacy Technician (Inpatient)

Summary

The Primary Purpose of the Position is: To accomplish duties related to stocking - delivering - inventory - inspections - assembling ward orders - controlled substances distribution - sterile compounding (including hazardous drugs) - unit-dose drug packaging - dispensing - distribution - and any other function related to pharmaceutical practices for inpatient care areas. This is an open continuous announcement - The 1st cut off date for 1st consideration will be 03/23/2026 - then every 5 days after.

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 (GS-07 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: (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• OR (2) National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• 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: GS-07 In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-07 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next 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: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles - practices - concepts and theories providing for sound independent work
• Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent
• Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team - Veterans and external customers
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students
• Ability to dispense medication 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: Minimum of 1-year previous inpatient hospital pharmacy experience
• Experience with pharmacy automation
• Knowledge and experience with pharmacy information/operating systems
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting: (15-44 pounds)
• Moderate Carrying (15-44 pounds)
• Straight Pulling (less than 30 minutes)
• Pushing (less than 30 minutes)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (up to 6 hours)
• Standing (up to 6 hours)
• Repeated bending (up to 1 hour)
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"
• Hearing (aid permitted).

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties include but are not limited to: Pharmaceutical: Interprets - fills - and prepares prescriptions with appropriate medications and/or medical supplies for pharmacist verification of outpatient prescription orders - inpatient orders - and clinic orders as required per policy
• Responds to questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel about drug distribution
• Provides patient education on topics like the refill process and relay questions outside of technician scope to the pharmacist
• Ensures adherence to appropriate storage guidelines including high-risk - look-alike sound-alike - and refrigerated items as per USP and VA guidelines
• Reconstitutes/prepares oral medications - ensuring accurate calculations and documentation for final pharmacist verification
• Efficiently and accurately manages cart fill - pre-exchanges - missing doses - and handle cart fill returns as directed by supervisor
• Medication Order Fulfillment: Prepares medication orders properly with the correct drug - strength - dosage form - quantity - auxiliary labels
• Assures that the correct medication is filled by using appropriate and established safety measures and checks
• Inspects packaged items for accuracy and suitability (to include appropriate labeling and documentation) before submitting for final check by a pharmacist
• Ensures appropriate review of medications to be dispensed to hospital areas per service level procedures
• Ward / Clinic Stock Management: Correctly inventories - assesses - and determines the need for ward and clinic stock replenishment
• Performs and documents inspection of assigned hospital areas for medication storage
• Removes all expired and deteriorated drugs from the automated dispensing stations
• Sterile Compounding: Compounds parenteral admixtures to be delivered in the form of large volume - small volume - infusion syringe or other as required
• Competence is demonstrated by utilizing correct application of aseptic technique standards to maintain sterile equipment - sterile working environment - and preparation of sterile products utilizing sterile technique in actual work performance
• Controlled Substances Activities: Documents all controlled substance-related transactions in line with VA and DEA guidelines - ensuring accurate inventory counts during restocking
• Always safeguard controlled substances - ensuring they are never left unsecured
• Ensures that proper handoff occurs when receiving or delivering controlled substances - always assuring that these medications are never left unsecured
• Reports unresolvable discrepancies to immediate area supervisor for resolution
• Assist in investigating - witnessing - and resolving discrepancies
• Complies with all laws - regulations - directives - policies - and procedures applying to the dispensing - storage - transfer - inventory - and accountability of controlled substances
• Administrative and Education/Training: Assists in training and orientation of new technicians - interns - and students
• Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program
• Build and maintain productive working relationships across departments - resolving queries and serving as a trusted resource
• Use VA integrated software and Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (VistA) for various clinical and administrative tasks
• Work Schedule: Work Schedule: 7:00 am - 3:30 pm or 2:30 pm - 11:00 pm
• Rotating weekends/holidays
• Tour may be further adjusted or extended to meet patient care needs
• Additional compressed tour overnight vacancies (7on/7off) may be recruited from this announcement as well
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #:51416-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.