Summary

The Clinical Pharmacist has primary emphasis on handling routine medication-related activities in accordance with local and national policies and regulations. These include, but are not limited to: reviewing, interpreting, and verifying medication orders; processing and filling medication orders; making recommendations to clinical staff regarding medication therapy orders; reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, labs and other pertinent information from the medication record.

Duties

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Major duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Drug Dispensing
  
  • Receives and accurately interprets written orders of physicians and dentists utilizing professional knowledge of drugs. All necessary clarification and corrections will be made prior to dispensing. Decisions regarding appropriateness will be based upon local and VA policies, professional standards and the latest available drug information. Documents that a corrective action, if required, was recommended. Reviews and maintains complete records of drugs and other pertinent information before dispensing and assures that the dose is within the therapeutic range and does not adversely affect the action of other drugs or conditions on the patient's profile.
  • When assigned to outpatient area, over-sees and participates in the prompt and timely processing of all prescriptions received. Provides education to patients upon request and when new medication, new dosage and/or new medication instructions are ordered by a physician. Will provide written recommendations for a continuing resolution of any problems in the drug distribution process.
  • Correctly interprets and dispenses or supervises dispensing of all inpatient medications, including ward stock, automatic stock replenishment, unit dose and intravenous admixtures. All physician orders will be reviewed for correctness of dosages, route of administration etc. Provides inpatient medication in a timely fashion in accordance with the needs of the patient. Will provide written recommendations for a continuing resolution of any problems in the drug distribution process.
  • Incumbent will have a thorough knowledge of drug stability, reconstitution requirements, able to recognize incompatibility, able to recognize overdoses and contraindications in orders. Will keep updated and will apply the latest sterile compounding techniques, the latest I.V. administration techniques, I.V. equipment and I.V. drug-information reference sources. Will understand and apply the critical nature of infection control procedures and the importance of maintaining a clean, aseptic work area.
  • Maintains a thorough understanding of policies, procedures, protocols and responsibilities and will be able to perform or supervise performance of all responsibilities assigned to pharmacy in the unit dose program.
  • Incumbent will have a thorough knowledge and understanding and will apply the policies and procedures involving the procurement, storage, recording and dispensing of controlled substances. Will monitor perpetual inventories of controlled substances and assist inspectors in their monthly reviews of controlled substances.
• Clinical Functions
  
  • Utilizes a knowledge of the methods and procedures of clinical review of physicians' and dentists' orders. Communicate with patients regarding their medications.
  • Provides accurate, unbiased and cost-effective drug information to professional health care providers utilizing a knowledge of adult and geriatric pharmacotherapy in psychiatry and medicine. Resolves drug related problems and questions in a timely and professional manner.
  • Provides admission and discharge patient medication interviews or counseling for drug history, compliance enhancement, and pharmacotherapeutic plan development.
• Collateral Duties
  
  • Directs and inspects the work of subordinates involved in the technical and clerical functions of the pharmacy; maintains timeliness of workload.
  • Orients and trains pharmacy staff, students and residents to ensure acceptable quality of work within areas assigned. Develops personal training plans and documents the course of training. Documents personal plans and accomplishments.
  • Serves on medical center committee(s) when assigned and/or if opportunity exists.
  • Maintains and reports required data on inventory, workload, dispensing records and drug use evaluation.
  • Operates the computer programs and equipment required in each area of assignment.
  • Participates in ongoing continuing education programs at the Medical Center to develop and maintain knowledge of adult and geriatric pharmacotherapy, Pharmacoeconomics, pharmaceutics, and hospital pharmacy
  • Incumbent must have a thorough understanding of the hospital's formulary system. Must be able to respond to a non-formulary request by suggesting a formulary drug as an alternative and must know how to handle special request items.
  • Incumbent is responsible for the promotion of basic clinical programs, departmental goals and objectives of an effective and efficient drug distribution.
  • The incumbent will be provided with opportunities and may request to participate in clinical projects.

Work Schedule: Varying shifts Monday-Friday 6:30am-6:00pm, occasional weekend/holiday coverage

Telework: Not Eligible

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000

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.
• 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.
• NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.
• 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

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).
• 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).
• 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.
  
  • NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification.

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).

Grade Determinations:

Clinical Pharmacist GS-12:

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

Preferred Experience: Clinical pharmacy experience in hospital of clinical setting. Experience with the VA healthcare system is desirable.

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 GS-12.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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

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.