Pharmacy Technician

In this position you would function primarily in patient care areas and Pharmacy Service within the health care organization Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 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 Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order. After a final check by a pharmacist, dispenses medication in ambulatory care or discharge situations. For unit dose medications, independently fills without secondary review first dose medications, missing doses and unit dose carts for inpatient areas. Repackages medications in unit-of-use packaging, 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 including barcodes and records required data on Pharmacy's replenishment/repackaging logs. All repackaged unit dose medications will be checked by a pharmacist or advanced practice technician before dispensing. Documents the items dispensed in the unit dose computer package. Prepares all IV admixtures to include cytotoxic agents, investigational drugs and other hazardous drugs, in accordance with established policy and procedures. Adheres to appropriate aseptic technique and sterile procedures in preparing and handling sterile products. Selects and measures appropriate ingredients, prepares the admixture, inspects the final product for accuracy and clarity, and affixes proper labels including barcode. After final check by a pharmacist, delivers the sterile products to the appropriate areas. Maintains pre-determined levels of automatic replenishment/ward stock medications for patient care areas. Independently restocks without routine secondary review the patient care areas to established inventory levels. Obtains the correct medications or items for restocking, affixes proper label including barcodes and delivers the medication to the appropriate patient care areas. Monitors inventory needs in patient care areas. Places stock in proper storage areas, rotates stock and removes/replaces outdated items. Documents the items dispensed in the automatic replenishment/ward stock computer package. Assists with inventory management by ensuring that adequate stocks of medications and supplies for dispensing are maintained in the pharmacy. Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition. Compounds and/or reconstitutes simple oral or external medications (non-sterile). This includes calculating and converting proper weights and measures the drug or solution to be used. Receives new stock of controlled substances in accordance with VHA regulations. Records all transactions in the VistA Controlled Substances Software package. Ensures the receipt is witnessed by an accountable officer or designee. Operates and performs preventive maintenance on pharmacy equipment. Provides technical assistance to biomedical and manufacturer service technicians when equipment requires repair or replacement. Coordinates the completion of all monthly ward inspections under the assignment by supervisor. Removes/replaces outdated items and excessive quantities of medications and documents using appropriate forms in accordance with established policies and procedures. Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution. Monitors refrigerator temperatures and documents temperatures as appropriate. Assists collecting data for quality improvement purposes. Participates in quality and performance improvement activities. Inventories and replenish emergency carts. Performs all the duties of lower grade technicians as required. Assists in all other patient care areas as deemed necessary by the pharmacy supervisor to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, off tour, variable depending on departmental needs 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. Functional Statement #: 0000 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: 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. (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. 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). 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: (1) 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. (2) 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. (3) 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. (4) 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. (5) 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. 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. Grade Determinations: Pharmacy Technician, GS-06. (1) Education or Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level. (2) 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: Inpatient and Outpatient experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. 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. 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/.