Pharmacy Technician

Summary

This Pharmacy Technician position is assigned to the Eastern Kansas Health Care System in Topeka, KS. Under the supervision of a pharmacist, you will perform routine pharmacy functions including filling, preparation and dispensing of prescriptions, sterile compounding preparation, management of automated dispensing equipment (ADE), inventory management and multiple types of customer contact services.

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Duties

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Pharmacy Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Pharmacy-Technician-Career-Flyer.pdf MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Reads and interprets prescriptions, obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form; determines proper amount and counts, pours, or measures the medications; affixes proper label; and records required data on Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order. After a final check by a pharmacist, dispenses medication in ambulatory care or discharge situations.
• For unit dose medications, independently fills first dose medications, missing doses, and unit dose carts for inpatient areas.
• Repackages medications in unit-of-use packaging, obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form; determines proper amount and counts, pours, or measures the medications; affixes proper label including barcodes; and records required data on Pharmacy's replenishment/repackaging logs.
• All repackaged unit dose medications will be checked by a pharmacist or another advance practice technician before dispensing.
• Documents the items dispensed in the unit dose computer package.
• Prepares all IV admixtures, including cytotoxic agents, investigational drugs, and other hazardous medications, in accordance with established policy and procedures.
• Adheres to appropriate aseptic technique and sterile procedures in preparing and handling of sterile products.
• Selects and measures appropriate ingredients, prepares the admixture, inspects the final product for accuracy and clarity, and affixes proper label including barcode.
• After final check by a pharmacist, delivers the sterile products to the appropriate areas.
• Maintains pre-determined levels of automatic replenishment/ward stock medications for patient care areas. Independently restocks without routine secondary review the patient care areas to established inventory levels.
• Obtains the correct medications or items for restocking, affixes proper label including barcodes, and delivers the medication to the appropriate patient care area.
• Monitors inventory needs in patient care areas.
• Places stock in proper storage areas, rotates stock, and removes/replaces outdated items.
• Documents the items dispensed in the automatic replenishment/ward stock computer package.
• Assists with inventory management by ensuring that adequate, in date stocks of medications and supplies for dispensing are maintained in the pharmacy.
• Orders inventory needs during the absence of the Inventory Management Technician.
• Compounds and/or reconstitutes simple oral or external medications (non-sterile), which includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the drug or solution to be used.
• Receives new stock of controlled substances in accordance with VHA regulations.
• Records all transactions in the VistA Controlled Substances Software package.
• Operates and performs preventive maintenance on complicated pharmacy equipment.
• Provides technical assistance to biomedical and manufacturer service technicians when equipment requires repair or replacement.
• Coordinates the completion of all monthly ward inspections.
• Removes/replaces outdated items and excessive quantities of medications and documents findings using appropriate forms in accordance with established policy and procedures.
• Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution.
• Identifies basic therapeutic problems such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention.
• Monitors refrigerator temperatures and documents temperatures on a log if appropriate daily in pharmacy.
• Assists collecting drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes.
• Participates in quality management and performance improvement activities by participating in service and medical center action teams.
• Provide patient education on pharmacy topics such as the requesting refill process, drug information sheets, and relaying judgmental questions to the pharmacist.
• Assists Pharmacy supervisor with training of new pharmacy technicians in both inpatient and outpatient areas.
• Inventories and replenishes emergency carts and anesthesia trays without a second review. Performs final review of replenished emergency carts and anesthesia trays that have prepared by lower graded technicians.
• As deemed necessary by the pharmacy supervisor, assists in other patient care areas to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services.

Work Schedule : Weekend Day and Weekend Evening Tours, Off Tours as Needed

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

Telework : Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 000000

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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.
• 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 ( 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 evaluation.
• 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. Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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.

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:

• 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.
• 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 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.
• 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.

GRADE DETERMINATIONS

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 - Transcripts submitted
  • 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 (GS-3) 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-Transcripts Submitted 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 (GS-4) 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 (GS-5) 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.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience working in a complex health care facility.
• Experience working in a fast paced inpatient and outpatient pharmacy setting.
• At least one year of pharmacy experience within the last 3 years.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.