Pharmacy Technician - Hampton, United States - Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

Description

Summary This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (HVAMC), under the Pharmacy Service Line.

This position can be assigned to work in any section of the pharmacy service and must be available to work rotating shifts.

Responsibilities VA Careers

• Pharmacy: Pharmacy technicians function in various areas of the pharmacy, e.

g.

inpatient pharmacy, outpatient pharmacy, controlled substances, procurement, various storage areas, offices and patient care areas, under the supervision of the of the supervisor, depending upon the area of administrative assignment of the incumbent or a registered pharmacist in the absence of a pharmacy technician supervisor.

Pharmacy technicians provide various technical support services within the pharmacy department. This position involves providing services related to inpatient and /or ambulatory patients. Full performance, GS-6 Pharmacy Technicians typically carry out the full range of technical support functions described below.

These include but are not limited to; processing and filling outpatient for scheduled and nonscheduled federal legend drugs and medical devices, over-the-counter products and supply items; inpatient and distribution of unit dose medications and ward stock items and intravenous admixtures including cytotoxic chemotherapy; stock management; operation, maintenance, re-stocking and troubleshooting of automated dispensing equipment; patient and customer relations; and preparation and maintenance of various logs, records and reports.

The incumbent may be required to perform some or all of the functions, however, the relative percentages of time spent performing each specific function varies with the area of administrative assignment.

Work Schedule:
Must be available for variable tours: days, afternoons, evenings, nights, weekends and holidays as needed. Subject to change based on the needs of the agency.


Telework:

Not available Virtual:
This is not a virtual position


Functional Statement #:

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:
Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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 probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP)

• See "Additional Information" below for details.

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


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.

Certification:

For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

OR National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).

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:
(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:

In addition to the basic requirements for appointment, there are grade requirements below that also need to be meet.

Pharmacy Technician, GS-03 Education and Experience: One year of post-secondary education. OR Six months of general experience. OR Student Technician. A student enrolled in an approved nationally accredited pharmacy technician program for an occupation identified in 38 U.S.C.

7405(a)(1)(A) or (B) may be appointed on a temporary full-time, part-time or intermittent basis under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.

7405(a)(1)(D) for a period not to exceed two years or the duration of the individual's program.

Pharmacy Technician, GS-04 Education and Experience: Completion of two years of post-secondary coursework related to pharmacy (e.g., 12 semester hours of science and mathematics courses).

OR Completion of one of the following:
Six months of experience, that demonstrated knowledge of medication or medical field practice. OR Successful completion of a military or nationally recognized pharmacy technician education/training program.

American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), American Pharmacist Association (APHA), Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), PTCB or NHA are examples of acceptable professional organizations recognizing such training programs.

NOTE:
Training courses recognized by PTCB and NHA are not actual certifications. OR One year of experience equivalent to next lower grade level.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

In addition to the education or experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to follow policies and procedures.

Ability to maintain appropriate files. Ability to communicate with patients and other health professionals. Ability to follow both written and verbal instructions. Ability to operate office software/equipment to include, computers, software applications and printers. Pharmacy Technician, GS-05

Education or Experience:

Successful completion of four years post-secondary education with courses related to pharmacy (e.g., 48 semester hours of science, mathematics, pharmacy) or a bachelor's degree.

OR An associate's degree in pharmacy technician or technology (48 semester hours of concentrated pharmacy technician training). OR One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

In addition to the education or experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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. Pharmacy Technician, GS-06

Education or Experience:
One year of experience equivalent to the next lower level.

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.


References:

VA Handbook 5005/159, Part II, Appendix G28; Pharmacy Technician Qualification Standards dated November 07, 2023 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6.

Physical Requirements:
Physical requirements for this position are as follows: Light lifting, 15-25 pounds with occasional heavier lifting. Light carrying, 15-25 pounds with occasional heavier carrying. Straight pulling (up to 2 hours). Pushing (up to 2 hours). Reaching above shoulder. Use of fingers. Repeated bending. Walking (up to 8 hours). Standing (up to 8 hours). Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as needed.


Education IMPORTANT:
A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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:
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:
Additional Information 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive , VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.