Pharmacy Technician

Full Job Description

This is the full performance level for Pharmacy technicians.

Employees at the full performance level may fill orders, dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs.

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: Pharmacy Technician candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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-Documentation Submitted: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: 4 (1) Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

OR (2) 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).

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: Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.-SF-50 Submitted if Applicable Certification-Documentation Submitted:.

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). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice.

Knowledge of preparation, storage and distribution of medication products including those requiring special handling and documentation.

Ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment. Knowledge of basic inventory procedures.

Ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel Assignments.

Pharmacy technicians at the full performance level may fill orders, dispense/deliver medications using automated systems or provide technical customer service to Veterans related to prescription needs.

Duties will include delivery of medications to floors/patients, filling medications for the pharmacist to review, checking for expired medications, answering phones with appropriate disposition, preparing sterile products (when applicable) and assisting with basic inventory management such as putting up stock and identifying when medications need to be ordered.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 6.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position.

May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing.

May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Major Duties:

Duties: This position is for an intermittent pharmacy technician to support inpatient pharmacy operations at the Lake Nona Medical Center.

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 electronically or via the Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order.

After a final check by a pharmacist, dispenses medication in a clinic, ambulatory care, dispensing window or discharge situations. Inventories replenished emergency carts without a second view.

Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvements purposes. Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy equipment.

Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile) without a second review.

This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used.

After prescription/order(s) are reviewed by a pharmacist for therapeutic propriety, reviews orders for technical accuracy and converts the order, if necessary, so that the item dispensed corresponds to the drug and dose ordered.

Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution.

Identifies basic therapeutic problems such as duplicate therapy with drugs in the same class and alerts the pharmacist to the possible need for clinical intervention.

Monitors refrigerator temperature daily in assigned areas. Conducts periodic ward inspection of clinic care areas and/or nursing medication rooms.

Maintains, verifies, stocks and replaces outdates in patient care area automated dispensing machines. Assists with inventory management, maintaining stock levels and ordering of medications.

Properly handles medications by ensuring high alert, hazardous, refrigerated and controlled substance medications are handled/stored appropriately and legally.

Prepares medications that requires special handling and documentation. Assists in training for lower graded technicians and technician students.

Performs all duties of lower graded technicians, if required.

As deemed necessary by the pharmacy supervisor, assists in other patient care areas to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services.

Provides pharmacy phone support with other departments and patients.

Will maintain the medication storage areas for compliance in drug outdates for the correct storage of medication as per the Joint Commission requirements. Other duties, as assigned.

Work Schedule: Employees may be required to work day, evening, night, weekend , holiday and or compressed, tours on a rotating schedule.

The hours may vary per the needs of the service and will rotate, on a fair and equitable basis, to include weekends and holidays. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 82275F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized