Summary

This Pharmacy Technician position is assigned to the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Pharmacy Service within the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center - Bay Pines - FL. Under the supervision of a pharmacist - pharmacy technicians perform routine pharmacy functions including filling - preparation and dispensing of prescriptions - sterile compounding preparation - management of automated dispensing equipment (ADE) - inventory management and multiple types of customer contact services.

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
• 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)
• 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
• 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-06
• Pharmacy technicians at the full performance level may fill orders - dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs
• Duties will include delivery of medications to floors/patients - filling medications for the pharmacist to review - checking for expired medications - answering phones with appropriate disposition - preparing sterile products (when applicable) and assisting with basic inventory management such as putting up stock and identifying when medications need to be ordered
• Experience
• Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level - GS-05
• The knowledge - skills - and abilities at the GS-05 grade level are: Knowledge of basic pharmacy operations
• Knowledge of pharmaceuticals to perform duties in pharmacy functional areas
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical nomenclature (including generic - chemical and proprietary names of drug)
• Ability to fill prescriptions
• Ability to use pharmacy information systems or basic pharmacy dispensing equipment with oversight
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice
• Knowledge of preparation - storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation
• Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment
• Knowledge of basic inventory procedures
• Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel
• Preferred Experience: Experience working in a large - complex VA medical center as a pharmacy technician or Experience working in a fast-paced outpatient pharmacy setting
• At least one-year current outpatient/retail pharmacy experience within the last 3 years preparing and dispensing medications
• 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-06
• Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over) - Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds) - Light lifting (under 15 pounds) - Heavy carrying (45 pounds and over) - Moderate carrying (15-44 pounds) - Light carrying (under 15 pounds) - Straight pulling (2 hours) - Pushing - Reaching above shoulder - Use of fingers - Both hands required - Walking (up to 4 hours) - Standing (prolonged) - Repeated bending - Climbing - use of legs and arms (infrequent) - Operation of motor vehicle - Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 - Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other - Specific visual requirement (Ability to read fine print on labels) - Depth perception - Ability to distinguish basic colors - Hearing (aid permitted) - Clear Speech - Emotional Stability - Good Dexterity
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service - for additional information.

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEwsTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The duties of the Pharmacy Technician include - but are not limited to the following:Outpatient Pharmacy Performs duties involved in all facets of outpatient medication distribution which includes use and care of automation (i.e. - Script Pro) for prescription filling
• Reads and interprets prescriptions - obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form
• determines proper amount and counts - pours - or measures the medications
• affixes proper label
• and records required data on electronically or via the Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order
• After a final check by a pharmacist - dispenses medication in a clinic - ambulatory care - dispensing window - or discharge situations
• Packages medication for delivery to the patient in accordance with United Postal and/or shipping company (i.e. - FEDEX) regulations
• Uses company software to generate shipping labels
• Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile) following standardized formulas and procedures in weighing - measuring and mixing bulk quantities of routinely used solutions - ointments - or powders
• Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution
• Upon request by a patient - provides procedural information pertaining to obtaining medications from this healthcare system (i.e. - how to request a refill)
• All patient interactions will be performed in a courteous - helpful - and friendly manner
• Monitors refrigerator temperature daily in assigned areas
• Inpatient Pharmacy Maintains - verifies - stocks - and replaces outdates in patient care area automated dispensing machines
• Uses pharmacy automation such as AutoMed Fast Pack - Euclid - and Pyxis to support unit dose medication dispensing
• Dispenses unit dose medication to patient's medication cassette or other patient medication storage system(s) used within the medical center
• Applies knowledge of the pharmacy VISTA unit dose package to generate pick lists used to fill patient cassettes
• Replenishes ward stock and completes monthly inspections
• Restocks crash carts and anesthesia carts as needed
• Prepares IV admixtures assigned - to include large volume parenteral and \"piggybacks\"
• Demonstrates knowledge of aseptic technique and basic calculations
• Properly handles medications by ensuring high alert - hazardous - refrigerated - and controlled substance medications are handled/stored appropriately and legally
• Monitors refrigerator temperature daily in assigned areas
• Material Management/ Inventory Returns stock medication and supplies to their appropriate areas by the end of each tour of duty
• Maintains a clean - orderly workplace and supports prescribed safety practices
• Rotates stock - checks for - and removes outdated medication
• Provides assistance to procurement technicians during times of heavy workload
• Work Schedule: Variable - Will be required to work variable tours of duty including evenings - weekends and holidays
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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) 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 (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 20250F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized