Pharmacy Technician

Summary

This position generally functions in the inpatient care areas and the Pharmacy Service within the VA Medical Center. The incumbent practices as a Pharmacy Technician in the Pharmacy of North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NFSGVHS).

Qualifications

• 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:
    • (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
    • (2) National Health career Association (NHA) - Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT)
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
  • In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
    • (a) Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles - practices - concepts and theories providing for sound independent work
    • (b) Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent
    • (c) Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team - Veterans and external customers
    • (d) Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students
    • (e) Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations - policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution
    • (f) Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases

Duties

• Reads and interprets prescriptions - obtains proper medication or material in the proper dose and strength - 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 - performs final review of medication when prepared by another technician - to be dispensed to inpatient areas (med-carts - ward stock) - and/or fills unit-dose carts independently without secondary review when necessary
• Inventories and replenishes emergency carts with appropriate medications and supplies
• Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes as required
• Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment such as unit dose prepackaging machines - automatic dispensing machines - IV compounding machines and other pharmacy devices
• Able to troubleshoot the equipment and the technology platforms/databases
• Performs all the duties of lower graded technicians - as required
• Provides training and mentorship to new or existing staff

Total Rewards

• Of an Allied Health Professional
• Work Schedule: 8 hour shifts - including rotating weekends - holidays - evening - and nights based on service needs
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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)
• 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
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized