Pharmacy Technician - Inpatient

Preferred Experience: Possess a current Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) with an understanding of the goals, objectives and performance measures associated with Pharmacy Operations. 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.
• Education or Experience: A high school diploma or equivalent; or at least 3 months experience.
• Certification: Certification by the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or National Health Career Association (NHA)? is required at grades GS-7 and above.
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacy technicians appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Grade Determinations:GS-7 Level: One year experience at the next lower level, and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level.
-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.
In addition, 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.

Assignments. 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. They assist advanced/ specialized pharmacy technicians and participate in performance improvement initiatives. At this level, pharmacy technicians use independent judgement to perform the full range of duties in the pharmacy. They also function as staff pharmacy technicians in various locations of the pharmacy, including pharmacy contact centers and other non-traditional pharmacy locations, with minimal oversight.

Certification: PTCB or NHA certification is required at this grade level and above.

Physical Requirements: Employees are typically expected to work forty hours per week. This may include evenings, midnights, weekends and/or holidays as assigned. Principle duties require repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g., preparing IV admixtures, use of a computer keyboard, etc.). May require lifting and carrying light loads (up to 44Ibs.), including boxes, equipment, unit dose-cassettes, and IV solutions; stooping or kneeling (e.g., to pick up items from the floor, remove and replace items on lower shelves, and to file documents in lower file drawers, etc.); sitting, walking, or standing for long periods of time (4-8 hours). Normal ranges of hearing and vision are required to perform work and communicate effectively; must have the visual ability to distinguish between basic colors and shades of color. An ability to perform tasks requiring rapid mental and muscular coordination functions simultaneously is necessary. Employees must be physically capable of operating various types of equipment used on the job. Employees may be required to work at various pharmacy locations as assigned.