Summary

The primary functions include the timely and accurate preparation and dispensing of medications to both inpatients and outpatients. Must exercise professional judgment in matters of appropriate dosing and therapeutic regimes. Rotates through different areas of Pharmacy Service: Outpatient, Inpatient (IV Admixture and Unit dose) and Clinical areas. The primary goal is facilitation of appropriate, safe, and cost effective drug therapy for our patients.

Duties

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Inpatient

• Evaluates physician orders and patient treatment for appropriateness of therapy, patient's response to therapy, adverse drug effects, pertinent laboratory monitoring, polypharmacy, cost containment issues and prescribing compliance with established protocols and criteria.
• Verifies and processes inpatient unit dose medication orders in the VISTA Inpatient Medication package accurately.
• Ensures inpatients medications are labeled appropriately (i.e.: inhalers).
• Processes and interprets IV orders and enters them into VISTA IV Admixture package.
• Ensures IV medications (IV admixtures, IV piggybacks, TPN, etc.) are prepared accurately using aseptic technique. Checks IVs prepared by Pharmacy Technicians or prepares accurately using aseptic technique.
• Provides medications to wards via Omnicell.
• Enters controlled substances dispensed or returned accurately and timely into the VISTA Controlled Substances package and Omnicell.
• Supervises inpatient Pharmacy Technicians in all aspects of Unit Dose and/or IV Admixture areas.
• Accurately checks all manually prepackaged medications using Prepackage Logbook, and checks automated packaging steps appropriately.
• Responds to Pharmacokinetic Consult and appropriately orders labs and antibiotics. Appropriately follows up on labs and follows protocol.

Outpatient

• Interprets new outpatient prescriptions and enters them into the VISTA Outpatient Pharmacy package appropriately, using professional judgment and VA guidelines.
• Processes prescription refill requests via the VISTA Outpatient Pharmacy package appropriately.
• Evaluates physician orders and patient treatment for appropriateness of therapy, patient's response to therapy, adverse drug effects, pertinent laboratory monitoring, polypharmacy, cost containment issues and prescribing compliance with established protocols.
• Fills prescriptions timely, accurately, and appropriately using ScriptPro.
• Checks prescriptions filled by Pharmacy Technicians using ScriptPro.
• Dispenses prescriptions using ScriptPro, including asking patient to show Veteran ID Card (VIC). If no VIC, patient must have 2 other forms of identification (complete name and social security number).
• Supervises Pharmacy Technicians when filling, mailing and/or dispensing prescriptions, and compounding products.

Clinical

• Renews outpatient prescriptions when appropriate in CPRS.
• Upon request, evaluates restricted and non-formulary requests, and applies national and local guidelines to arrive at an informed decision to approve or disapprove.
• Consults with patients regarding how to take new medication appropriately, side effects and precautions. Provides written drug information.
• Consults with nurses concerning drug dosage, availability, and order changes.
• Provides medication information to nurses, physicians, and other health personnels.
• Provides inhaler patient information upon consult request. Enters CPRS note upon consult completion.
• Provides direct patient care activities via a variety of pharmacist run clinics (examples include anticoagulation clinic and new patient pharmacy consults).

General

• Responsible for controlled substance accountability.
• Represents Pharmacy Service at various committee meetings.
• Responsible for various Pharmacy related projects.
• Provides the highest level of professional and ethical behavior.

Work Schedule: 4/10 hour shifts that include alternating weekends and holidays based upon department needs.

Compressed/Flexible:Available

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 53080-A, 53079A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 examination.
• 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.

Qualifications

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:

• Graduate of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois [redacted]; phone: [redacted], or through their Web site at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.)
• Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the graduate is able to provide proof of achieving the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Commission (FPGEC) Certification, which includes passing the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet- Based Test (TOEFL iBT).

English Language Proficiency:

• Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

Licensure:

• Full, current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia. The pharmacist must maintain current registration if this is a requirement for maintaining full, current, and unrestricted licensure. A pharmacist who has, or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16.

Grade Determinations:

GS-11 Pharmacist: Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist:

• Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following:
  
  • 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11), or
  • Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  
  • (1) Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
  • (2) Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff.
  • (3) Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
  • (4) Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

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 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 11 to GS 12.

Physical Requirements: The physical requirements for this position include light lifting and carrying (15-25 pounds) with occasional heavier lifting and carrying, straight pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, using fingers, repeated bending, walking, and standing (up to 8 hours), with the ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as needed. The job also necessitates adherence to department and VHA policies, and involves sitting, climbing stairs, shelf stocking, lifting up to 50 pounds, and requires dexterity of the hand and wrist, as well as arm strength. Activities align with caring for Veterans and ensuring personal safety and security. Duties involve moderate lifting, walking, bending, stooping, standing, pushing, and pulling.

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: 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/.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.