Pharmacy Technician

The Inpatient Pharmacy technicians at this grade level will assist the pharmacist in providing optimal care and timely service in accordance with the mission, vision, and goals of the Central Virginia VA Healthcare System and Pharmacy. Pharmacy technicians at this grade level are nationally certified by PTCB or ExCPT and can work autonomously, using independent judgement to perform a full range of duties.

Duties to include but not limited to the following:

Inpatient Pharmacy Activities:

• Sterile Product Compounding
  • Follow USP 797/800 Guidelines for the compounding of all sterile preparations, including ophthalmic, cardioplegic, TPN, hazardous, large & small volume IV solutions, PCAs, etc. Manufactures 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 ingredients, mixes ingredients in a safe and effective manner, inspects the final product for accuracy, suitability, and elegance, labels the product, maintains records of the manufacturing process, and supplies the product for pharmacist verification and delivery.
  • Uses standard protocols to determine an accurate expiration date for each batch prepared.
  • Consistently displays competence with good manufacturing 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. b. Inventories and replenishes emergency trays.
  • Operates and maintains automated dispensing unit dose systems.
  • Inspects packaged items for accuracy and suitability before submitting for final check, prior to distribution to hospital areas.
  • Assures repackaged dosage forms are labeled according to USP and VA standards and attains a final review by a pharmacist.
  • Assures that each area that is inspected meets established standards for appropriate drug storage conditions including drug security for inspection and accreditation.
• 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.
  • Performs and documents an inspection of assigned hospital areas for medication storage. Removes all expired and deteriorated drugs from the automated dispensing stations, stocks shelves, and the unit dose automated dispensing systems.

Outpatient Pharmacy Activities

• Prescription Assembly
  • Assembles prescriptions properly with the correct drug, strength, quantity, auxiliary labels, and prescription labels. for window dispensing and mail delivery
  • Assures that the correct medication is filled by using bar code scanning on stock bottles.
  • Supports automation by manually completing prescriptions not processed through the automation dispensing machine.
  • Assures the timely completion of all prescriptions.
• Window Pick-Up
  • Verifies the patient's identification following the Medical Center's policies (i.e., double patient identifiers)
  • Verifies that the patient receives the correct prescriptions by using VA software (i.e., VISTA and barcode scanning)
  • Verifies that the patient has received all prescriptions (i.e., refrigerated, controlled substances, bulk medications, etc.)

Work Schedule: Rotating shifts to include evenings, weekends, and holidays. Subject to call back outside tour of duty.
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)
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 (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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 proficiency
• PTCB or NHA certification

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: In addition to the one year of experience, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs for all GS-07 assignments and meet any additional KSAs for the assignment, if indicated.

1. Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.
2. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.
3. Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers.
4. Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
5. Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.
6. Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases.

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-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

• 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.
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.