The incumbent will perform duties that require a certain degree of specialized knowledge and skills in pharmaceutical work and an extensive knowledge of the routine procedures of the Inpatient Pharmacy. 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. 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). 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) is required at grades GS-6 and above. Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) at all grade levels, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists. For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) in assignments above the full-performance level only, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may remain at an appropriate lower grade level in the occupation when both of the following apply: the credential is not a requirement and a placement opportunity exists." Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation 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 required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: VA Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such 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. 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. 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. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. ? 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Preferred Experience: Experience as pharmacy technician The pharmacy technician must possess technical knowledge of drugs and medication brand names, generic names, chemical names, general and special storage requirements, manufacturer and distributor source, dosage forms, applicable systems of weights and measures, and medical terminology in order to interpret physicians' orders and verify correct drug, dosage form, strength and dose is prepared and dispensed. Also needs working knowledge of hospital computer. Grade Determinations: (1) Creditable Experience. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics associated with the scope of pharmacy technician practice. (2) Quality of Experience. To be creditable, pharmacy technician experience must be documented on the application and verified in an employment reference, or through other independent means. (3) Part-time Experience. Part-time experience as a pharmacy technician is credited according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a pharmacy technician would receive 1 week of full-time credit for each 2 weeks of half-time work. (4) Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: GS-6 (a) Experience. One year experience at the next lower level of GS-5, and must fully meet the KSAs at the next lower level. GS-5 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Ability to operate and care for automated dispensing devices and equipment. 2. Knowledge of, and ability to perform, aseptic technique. 3. Knowledge of basic inventory procedures. 4. Knowledge of pharmacy information systems. (b) Certification. PTCB certification is required at this grade level and above. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: (c) GS-6 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Ability to solve problems and make recommendations, e.g., troubleshoot operational problems and refer for appropriate action. 2. Knowledge of the operation and care of automated equipment. 3. Knowledge of, and ability to follow, written instructions for compounding with aseptic technique for hazardous materials such as oncology agents. 4. Knowledge, and ability to perform, compounding with aseptic technique for routine sterile products. 5. Knowledge of policies and procedures for inventory management in specialized areas such as emergency carts. 6. Knowledge of the computerized prescription process demonstrated by the ability to input prescriptions and medication orders. References: VAH 5005/15 Part II Appendix G28 Dated March 17, 2006 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-6. Physical Requirements: The work requires standing, walking, bending, sitting, and lifting moderately heavy packages. ["Must be knowledgeable of the more complex interpretation of medication orders and pharmacy nomenclature. Responsible on a daily basis for filling and delivering the unit dose medication carts to the assigned wards and the Community Living Care units. Must be able to accurately read and calculate pre-exchange dosages to be dispensed. Reviews, separates & returns unit dose medications as appropriate to the proper bins at the medication picking stations. Assist with final verification of cart fill unit dose orders (tech-check-tech) at the discretion & direction of the Lead Inpatient Pharmacy Technician. Operates all automated unit dose packing equipment. Must be able to perform minor repairs on the system when needed & perform daily cleaning & maintenance. Must maintain an inventory of pre-packed unit doses for stocking at unit dose picking stations. Required to generate pick lists through VistA for medication orders for the hospital wards & units Must be knowledgeable with the BCMA concept and understand its application within the scope of duties. Must be able to print BCMA labels and properly & accurately affix them to appropriate products received by the Inpatient Pharmacy where manufacturers' barcodes are unavailable or inadequate. Assembles & calculates dosages of sterile compounded medications, able to reconstitute & add the appropriate diluents or stock solutions & clean the laminar flow hoods. Prepares piggybacks, large volumes, TPNs and chemotherapy after completion of required training in accordance with USP <795>, USP <797>, USP <800> and review of employee safety measures. Must strictly adhere to aseptic technique in processing all compounded sterile product orders. Delivers & appropriately stores IVs on the proper wards & units. Able to compound and/or reconstitute oral and external medications (non-sterile). Responsible for replenishing medication in crash carts and other emergency use kits using current medical center protocol. Will record all pertinent information on the appropriate inventory sheet. Able to compile a restock sheet from ADC-generated reports to assimilate stock items for daily restocking of nursing units, fills orders received from clinics/CBOCs & delivers the supplies to hospital areas. Records the quantity of dispensed stock into Automatic Replenishment in VistA for each unit/clinic/CBOC & can generate usage reports if necessary. Serves as an information liaison between doctors, nurses and pharmacists, relaying questions and possible solutions to appropriate individuals. Perform & complete assigned monthly ward inspections and automated dispensing cabinet inspections, checking for outdated drugs, IV solutions, multi-dose vial usage and any items pertaining to pharmacy. Responsible for performing & completing internal inspections for outdated drugs in the Inpatient Pharmacy as assigned. Maintains knowledge of medication storage policies and procedures and documents deficiencies found on appropriate inspection forms. Responsible for general pharmacy support & upkeep. Shares responsibility for maintaining adequate drug stock, efficient material management, maintenance of records, inventory control, and storage of pharmaceuticals. Appropriate adds and removes inventory from automated equipment and software. Provides support for other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: All approved pharmacy tours Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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