Summary For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacy technicians at this level are nationally certified and can work autonomously using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties. These pharmacy technicians mentor and train lower graded pharmacy technicians in the practice setting. Responsibilities This position functions primarily in the inpatient care areas and the Pharmacy Service within the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center (JMCAVAMC). The incumbent practices as a Pharmacy Technician in the Inpatient Pharmacy of JMCAVAMC. This area serves adult and elderly Veterans needing care within the JMCAVAMC system 24 hours a day 7 days a week, nights, weekends, and holidays. Providing support for the hospital staff by reading and interpreting orders, obtaining the proper medication or material in the proper dose and strength. Working alongside the Pharmacist to ensure the correct medication is compounded, packaged, and delivered to the correct patient, provider, or automated dispensing system. Uses independent judgement performing the duties assigned. Must maintain a PTCB certificate or an Except certificate. Follows all guidelines of USP 797, 795, 800, VA Handbook 5005, DEA regulations and all National Pharmacy and Facility Policies. FUNCTIONS: Pharmacy Technicians assigned to this position must demonstrate the following 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 medications orders or electronic equivalent. Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other member 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. MEDICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: 1. Reads and interprets orders, 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 requires data on Pharmacy's copy of inpatient order. After a final check by a pharmacist, dispenses medication in hospital settings. 2. For unit-dose medications, prepares medications to be dispensed to inpatient areas (med-carts, ward stock), and/or fills unit-dose carts and has work reviewed by a pharmacist. 3. Inventories and prepares emergency carts with appropriate medications and supplies. 4. Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes as required. 5. Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment such as unit dose prepackaging machines, automatic dispensing machines, IV compounding machines and other pharmacy devices. Able to troubleshoot the equipment and the technology platforms/databases. 6. Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile). This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used. 7. After prescription/order(s) are reviewed by a pharmacist for therapeutic propriety, reviews orders for technical accuracy and converts the order, if necessary, so that the item dispensed corresponds to the drug and dose ordered. 8. Identifies basic therapeutic problems such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention. 9. Maintains, verifies, stocks, and replaces outdates in patient care areas and the areas' automated dispensing machines. 10. Ensures all look alike, sound alike, high alert, refrigerated medications are stored properly according to manufactures recommendations and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requirement. 11. Monitors inventory needs in-patient care areas, relays this information to the appropriate Pharmacy personal. This also includes placing stock in proper storage areas, rotating stock on shelves and removing/replacing outdated items. 12. Assists with inventory management and ordering of medicines and supplies. 13. Performs all the duties of lower graded technicians, if required. GENERAL DUTIES: As deemed necessary by the pharmacy supervisor, assists in other patient care areas (including outpatient pharmacy services) to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services. However, primary assignments of work schedule and tours would involve inpatient pharmacy services. Inpatient services may include such areas as aseptic admixture preparation including cytotoxic agents, automatic and on-demand ward stock replenishment, maintenance and operation of automated prepackaging storage and dispensing equipment, assembly and documentation of controlled substance requests and properly packaging with documentation of single unit of use medications. Ensures all inventory automation equipment in the pharmacy service is properly refilled and utilized to maintain inventory controls. Participates in ensuring the Operating Room is properly stocked for injectable, non-injectable and controlled substance medications. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a trial period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). 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. Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English Certification. Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is required at grades GS-6 and above. Grade Determination (GS-7):Experience. One year experience at the next lower level (GS-6), and must fully meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) at the next lower level, which are: 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. NOTE: Your description of your work experience in your resume/CV must adequately demonstrate all required knowledge, skills, and abilities in order for you to be found qualified and referred for consideration. References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G28 - Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements: The position requires frequent walking and standing; repeated bending; moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); the ability to read handwritten or @typed characters with or without glasses; ability to hear conversation voice with or without aid; and emotional and mental stability. 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/. Grandfathering Provision: Does not apply above the full performance level. Certification. For this positions above the full performance level (GS-7), the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
