Pharmacy Technician

Summary

In this position you would function primarily in patient care areas and Pharmacy Service within the health care organization

Duties

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional 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 without secondary review 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 advanced practice technician before dispensing. Documents the items dispensed in the unit dose computer package. Prepares all IV admixtures to include cytotoxic agents, investigational drugs and other hazardous drugs, in accordance with established policy and procedures. Adheres to appropriate aseptic technique and sterile procedures in preparing and handling sterile products. Selects and measures appropriate ingredients, prepares the admixture, inspects the final product for accuracy and clarity, and affixes proper labels 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 areas. 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 Places stock in proper storage areas, rotates stock and removes/replaces outdated items.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 stocks of medications and supplies for dispensing are maintained in the pharmacy. Maintains work areas in a clean and orderly condition. Compounds and/or reconstitutes simple oral or external medications (non-sterile). This includes calculating and converting 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. Ensures the receipt is witnessed by an accountable officer or designee. Operates and performs preventive maintenance on 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 under the assignment by supervisor. Removes/replaces outdated items and excessive quantities of medications and documents using appropriate forms in accordance with established policies and procedures. Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution. Monitors refrigerator temperatures and documents temperatures as appropriate. Assists collecting data for quality improvement purposes. Participates in quality and performance improvement activities. Inventories and replenish emergency carts. Performs all the duties of lower grade technicians as required. Assists in all other patient care areas as deemed necessary by the pharmacy supervisor to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, off tour, variable depending on departmental needs Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000

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: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). Education or Experience. (1) None required. (2) 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: (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR (2) National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT). 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: (1) 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. (2) 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. (3) 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. (4) 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. (5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/cert