Pharmacy Technician; Compound Sterile Products

Summary

The position and duties of this position are performed in the sterile product preparation suite and accompanying storage areas of the pharmacy section located within the VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN
6) - Pharmacy Service. The incumbent is a highly specialized technician who, under the authority of the Compound Sterile Products (CSP) program manager or designee, is responsible for the preparation of sterile products handled by pharmacy.

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.

• United States Citizenship:
  Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 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
• Certification:
  For positions above the full performance level - the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either:
  Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) or National Health career Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• 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:
  Pharmacy Technician - GS-08
• Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) and demonstrate the KSAs below
• For positions above the full performance level - the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either (a) PTCB as a CPhT or (b) NHA as a ExCPT
• Knowledge,
  
  Skills and Abilities
  
  (KSAs):
  • Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, principles, methodology and policies in a specialized area or section of pharmacy (such as sterile compounding, controlled substances, automation, clinical pharmacy, contact center, etc.)
  • Skill in training and orienting new and existing pharmacy facility employees and students on proper policies and procedures
  • Ability to evaluate, analyze and coordinate workflow and work activities within a specialized area or section of the pharmacy
• Assignments above the full performance level require significant scope, complexity and range of variety, performed at least 25% of the time
• Pharmacy technicians at this level have a higher level of responsibility for specialized areas of pharmacy and are expected to independently carry out tasks of considerable difficulty
• Possible assignments include specialization in areas such as sterile compounding, oncology, controlled substances, medication history review, clinical specialist roles, automation, immunizations, and other specialized areas
• The technician will serve as a subject matter expert and key resource in the day-to-day duties of the specialized area
• The technician will perform tasks such as compounding sterile products, filling controlled substance prescriptions while maintaining compliance with DEA regulations, taking medication histories and counseling patients, managing automation, managing workflow and training staff in the specialized area
• Preferred Experience:
  
  Individuals with IV Compounding Experience - Specific to Chemotherapy Medications
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Standards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-8.

• Most duties will be performed in the intravenous (IV) cleanroom suite - setting up sterile products for dispensing, making appropriate record entries, reviewing IV administration records, and assisting inspectors, review teams, and other staff during routine inquiries and inspections
• Expected to maintain a high degree of accurate productivity and performance while contributing to total patient care
• Knowledgeable with VA policy and regulatory requirements for handling and checking in shipments of drugs and supplies, verifying accuracy of shipments, rotating stock, and ensuring proper storage of all items
• Monitors physical inventory of stocked items - notifying procurement of quantities on hand and advising as to ordering trends, shortages, and outdated medications
• The tour of duty for this position will be a rotating schedule as determined by the section supervisor
• Work Schedule:
  
  Monday–Friday, 8-hour shifts based on needs of the service (days,…