Clinical Staff Pharmacist (Inpatient)

Summary

Position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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Duties

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The Clinical Staff Pharmacist is located in Pharmacy Service, at Memphis, TN VAMC. This position provides clinical pharmacy support to the medical center and healthcare team. The Clinical Staff Pharmacist may function as a representative of the Pharmacy Service for critical and acute care sections of inpatient beds and for ambulatory care areas. This position covers direct and indirect patient care, appropriate, safe and economical medication use and provides pharmaceutical care services, including monitoring, quality assurance/ improvement, staff/patient education and consultation. The Clinical Staff Pharmacist serves a multi-functional role and is specially prepared by pharmacy education and experience to have an advanced knowledge of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics. This position functions primarily in the patient care areas of Pharmacy Service.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Filling prescriptions by selecting the correct drug and dosage form, reducing the drug from bulk to the quantity prescribed, compounding when necessary, and packaging and labeling.
• Dispensing of drugs, especially controlled substances, investigational and cytotoxic drugs, to assure that legal and agency regulations and instructions are followed, that proper and complete recordkeeping is maintained.
• Reviews the patient medication profile prior to dispensing drugs and medications.
• Facilitates special formulations, and extemporaneous compounding of routine and special parenteral medications requiring complex preparation and/or dosing.
• Prevents and identifies drug-induced problems that may be affecting the patient, takes appropriate steps to manage these problems and/or communicates these findings to his/her primary provider.
• Counsels patients and family members concerning medication directions for use, side effects, precautions, and the need to strictly follow the regimen.
• Monitors patient medication profiles and ensures information is correct and up to date.
• Provides consultation to physicians, nurses, and other health professionals on medication management issues.
• Makes recommendations in the selection of formulary alternative and/or therapeutic interchange medications.
• Conducts drug usage evaluations, and patient drug therapy monitoring in accordance with VAMC Memphis and Pharmacy Service policy and Joint Commission standards.
• Applies pharmacokinetics, using rate order equations as appropriate to equilibrate serum levels.
• Assists in the orientation and training of new pharmacy employees, students, residents and volunteers.
• Functions as a consultant to the medical staff on pharmacotherapeutics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology via effective written and oral communication.
• Performs in service training to medical, nursing, and other disciplines as scheduled.
• Checks, guides, and advises lower-grade co-workers.
• Verifies and/or corrects medication orders entered in the computer system.
• Coordinates and resolves problems associated with medication distribution.
• Analyzes data and completes reports, including ward inspections and chart reviews, according to established policy.
• On a rotating basis, is delegated authority to act as pharmacist team leader or pharmacist in charge of the assigned practice area and/or as a subspecialty Pharmacy Program(s) Coordinator which may include State Nursing Home, Fee Basis Pharmacy, Chemotherapy/IV Therapy, Patient Education, Staff Development, FIRM Pharmacy, Controlled Substances Systems, Satellite pharmacy areas (e.g. MICU, SICU) etc.
• Participates in the DUE/MUE process by assisting in; determination of problem areas, criteria development, analysis and follow-up recommendations for improved drug therapy as deemed appropriate; e.g., education, review, software/programming enhancements, etc.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule : Sunday - Saturday, (midnight - 11:59pm, rotating weekends and holidays) as determined by the service.

Telework : Not Available

Functional Statement # : 50138-F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized: 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 dentification 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 may be required to serve a 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:
  • (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, Illinois60602-5109; phone: View phone number on click.appcast.io, or through their Web site at: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.)
  • (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.
• 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.

Grade Determinations : In addition to the basic requirements listed above, the below qualification requirements must be met at grade(s) you are applying for.

GS-12 Clinical Pharmacists: Pharmacists at this grade level, 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.

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

1. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or
2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.

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: ASHP accredited pharmacy practice residency completion, Board Certification.

Reference: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15, June 7, 2012.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: The requirements vary by section. Physical Demands: The work involves considerable walking, bending, standing and stooping. Packages lifted occasionally weigh up to 40 pounds. Dexterity is required for the operation of Pharmacy equipment.

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

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.