Clinical Pharmacist

Summary

The primary function of this position will be the interpretation of provider's orders, dispensing appropriate medications, preparation of specialized medications, and the counseling of patients on the proper administration and storage of medication. These functions include duties of a pharmaceutical nature in all areas of the pharmacy in this active medical center.

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Duties

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The duties of the Clinical Pharmacist include, but are not limited to:

• Serves as a second level supervisor in directly overseeing the work of technicians, pharmacy residents, or other non-professional employees in assigned area. Has the responsibility of maintaining smooth work-flow of day-to-day activities and assumes responsibility of work performed under his/her supervision.
• Knows and follows administrative requirements of all pharmacy sections as outlined in policies and procedures covering narcotic control, formulary, investigational drugs, and general procurement procedures, proper dispensing and storage of medications, security guidelines. infection control, etc. Provides collateral documentation for appropriate tasks as required by Pharmacy policy and procedure. Provides direct oversight of daily duties of pharmacy residents, technicians and students and is responsible for smooth work-flow of activities in assigned area. Assures quality control of technicians' work through inspection of work upon completion. Works with Pharmacy Technicians by overseeing the filling of Unit Dose Carts, preparation of IV admixtures, and filling of prescriptions. Provides supervision with input on performance of pharmacy residents. Communicates effectively with peers and subordinates even under the most stressful circumstances.
• Makes recommendations to the Chief, Pharmacy Service on needed changes in policy and procedure as appropriate.
• Reviews and interprets prescriptions and/or provider's orders for accuracy, eligibility, allergy assessment, availability, and therapeutic appropriateness. Reviews patient medication profiles, contacts providers and makes authorized changes in orders or prescriptions as required. Fills prescriptions/orders in a timely, accurate manner.
• Assures on-going Controlled substance and investigational drug accountability through accurate dispensing and maintenance of administrative records. Is familiar with agents being investigated and serves as consultant to providers and nurses when questions arise about investigational drugs.
• Exercises final technical authority over all professional pharmacy matters with which he/she individually deals, except those which affect pharmacy policies and programs and are outside Pharmacy's domain.
• Compounds and dispenses all extemporaneous preparations, even those which require a high degree of technical and pharmaceutical knowledge. Develops special formulas as required.
• Processes all CLC pass medications accurately and in a timely manner when assigned to that area.
• Processes Pharmacy orders into the VISTA Pharmacy Programs in a timely manner when assigned. Performs other data processing work as required (for example, printing IV active order lists, ward lists, scheduled IV labels, medication profiles, etc.).
• Coordinates such activities as prepackaging, labeling, stocking, and distribution of medications to assure uninterrupted supply of medications.
• Serves as an authority on drug usage, interactions, over-dosages, and compliance to medical staff, nursing staff, technicians, pharmacy residents and students. Uses appropriate references to research drug information.
• Reviews patient medications ensuring medications have appropriate diagnosis, dose, route, interval and have no significant drug interactions, incompatibilities or duplications in therapy. Recommends appropriate drug therapy changes based on review and on standards of care and patient response. Practices formulary management, ensuring most cost effective and therapeutically appropriate medications are utilized based on individual patient needs. Ensure non-formulary medication usage is appropriate according to VA policy and standards of care.
• Reviews patient medications on the medical and surgical units and the cure CLC when assigned. Attends multidisciplinary rounds and other meetings for medication review in these areas and serves as consultant for pharmacy-related questions as assigned.

Work Schedule : Rotating tours of duty, holidays, and weekends. Subject to change based on the needs of the facility.

Telework : Not Available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 586-01443-F; 586-00291-F

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.
• 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 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.
• English Language Proficiency . Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• 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 60602-5109; phone: View phone number on click.appcast.io, or through their Web site at: ( NOTE : Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.)
• 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.
  • Exception . Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. For grade levels above the GS-11, the candidate must be licensed.

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 :

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

GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level):

(a) Experience or Education . In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following:

1. One (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or,

2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. and,

In addition to the above, Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (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.

Preferred Experience:

• Previous outpatient pharmacy experience.

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

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: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment : Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

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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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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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.