Clinical Pharmacist Inpatient

Summary This position is located in the Pharmacy Service at the Robley Rex VA Medical Center. Serves primarily as an Inpatient Pharmacist whose assignments involve problems of a wide range and highly specialized nature. Responsibilities General Description of Assigned Duties 1. The clinical pharmacist ensures safe, effective medication use by assessing therapy, dispensing accurately, monitoring outcomes, educating, collaborating, and performing medication reconciliation. 2. Functions or Scope of Practice A. Clinical i. The clinical pharmacist ensures, effective medication use by assessing therapy, dispensing accurately, monitoring outcomes, educating patients and staffing, and resolving medication issues. ii. Conducts patient counseling before discharge (including patient/family education), fulfills medication reconciliation duties, and documents the encounter, following these steps: 1. Collect a complete list of current medications from the discharging service. This includes dose, frequency, how long the patient has been taking each medication, and the purpose of each medication. 2. Validate and update the medication list to show which medications will be added, continued, or discontinued at discharge. 3. Compare the validated and updated list to the provider's discharge instructions and discharge medication orders. 4. Make recommendations about drug therapy by comparing the medication list with provider orders, taking into account the patient's medical condition and any refill needs. 5. Document all collected and validated information in the patient's electronic medical chart. 6. Verify and prepare oncology medications safely , monitors, collaborate, and support care. 7. Provide consultation to physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals regarding drug therapy. 8. Evaluates patient medication comprehension and provides clear oral and written counseling to reinforce understanding. 9. Monitors medication dosages and intended therapy using available clinical information. 10. Responds to pharmacy consults involving aminoglycoside and vancomycin dosing. 11. Addresses consults related to herbal medications, non-VA medications, and renal dosing considerations. 12. Reviews new medication orders for duplication, allergies, and continuity of care. 13. Participates in Quality Assurance programs as directed by the supervisor. i. Validates and updates patient allergy information in VistA and CPRS for all admitted patients. ii. Validates and updates Averse Drug Reaction (ADR) information in VistA, CPRS, and VA's Adverse Drug Event Reporting System (VADERS). iii. Documents and reports medication errors and near misses. iv. Provides clinical pharmacy information and supports services to ensure optimal therapy. v. Works with outpatient pharmacy and staff to support seamless medication processes for discharging patients. B. Dispensing i. Verifies medication orders accurately using VistA and CPRS. ii. Supports outpatient or inpatient pharmacy staffing as needed. iv. Conducts quality control analysis for dispensing activities, including automated dispensing equipment and pharmacy technician workflows. v. Takes appropriate action on all medication orders, including non-formulary items, compounds, and items that are out of stock. vi. Resolves drug distribution issues and supports quality assurance programs. C. Formulary Management i. Participates in developing policies, procedures, criteria for use, and guidelines related to drug therapy. ii. Reviews non-formulary or restricted medication requests, approves or denies them according to medical center criteria and clinical appropriateness. D. Training, Education, and Personal Competence i. Provides training, and orientation to pharmacy staff, students, and residents to support competency and professional development ii. Educates patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals on medication therapy, safe medication practices, and clinical pharmacy services. iii. Provides medication-related information to patients and healthcare staff. iv. Delivers in-service education to pharmacists, residents, interns, students, nurses, medical students, and other healthcare professionals. v. Maintains working knowledge of service and medical center policies, contributes to TJC surveys and other quality or risk management inspections. vi. Maintains competence by taking part in staff development programs. vii. Shares essential information with other pharmacists to support daily pharmacy operations. E. Security i. Maintains strict security over all medications within the pharmacy and hospital medication storage areas, ensures pharmacy security F. Research i. Participates in or assists with research projects assigned by the Pharmacy Service. ii. Collects, analyzes, and organizes data for research or quality improvement projects. iii. Reviews professional literature, incorporates applicable research findings into pharmacy practice. Work Schedule: Primarily Monday- Friday Between 0600-1730. Rotating weekends and Holidays based off the needs of the service. Telework: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 41177F/41188F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorize Requirements 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. Education (1) 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. (2) 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. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 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). 3. GRADE REQUIREMENTS a. Creditable Experience (1) Knowledge of Professional Pharmacy Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with professional pharmacy practice. Professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional or unlicensed graduate pharmacist as defined by the appropriate licensing board. (2) Residency and Fellowship Training. Residency and fellowship training programs in a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for year basis. The pharmacy residency program must be accredited by the American Society of Health- System Pharmacists (ASHP). A fellowship program that is not accredited by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) will need to have comparable standards for experience to be creditable (Professional Standards Board refers to the Deputy Chief Consultant for Professional Practice for the determination). (3) Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to pharmacy experience at the next lower level. Experience as a Graduate Pharmacist is creditable provided the candidate was used as a professional pharmacist (under supervision) and subsequently passed the appropriate licensure examination. (4) Part-time Experience. Part-time experience as a professional pharmacist is credited according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a pharmacist employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service. b. Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph 2, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Grade Determinations: GS-11 Pharmacist (a) Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. (NOTE: See exception to licensure requirement in subparagraph 2c(1) above.) (b) Assignment. Pharmacists at this grade level serve in a developmental capacity. (2) 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. 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or 2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. (b) Assignment. A pharmacist in this assignment handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and national policies and regulations. These include, but are not limited to: reviewing, interpreting, and verifying medication orders for appropriateness; processing and filling medication orders; interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care; reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, labs, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems; contacting providers as appropriate; documenting recommendations and interventions; providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies; taking health and medication histories; performing medication reconciliation; providing drug information; assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations; documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs); assisting in medical emergencies; providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution. 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: PGY1 Residency 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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.