Summary The incumbent practices as a Pharmacy Technician in the Inpatient Pharmacy of the New Mexico VA Medical Center. This area serves adult and elderly Veterans needing care within the New Mexico VAMC system 24 hours a day 7 days a week, nights, weekends, and holidays. Provides support for hospital staff by reading and interpreting orders, obtaining proper medication or material in the proper dose and strength. Responsibilities Medication Management Reads and interprets prescriptions and or electronic orders, obtains the correct 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 inpatient orders or prescription. 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. Refers any questions or unclear orders pertaining to medications in general such as; interactions, dosing, strengths, quantity or drug/ drug or drug/food compatibilities to a pharmacist for clinical intervention. Prepares inpatient drug orders including all medicinal dosage forms such as chemotherapy, intravenous admixtures, oral solids, etc., according to established procedures and protocols. Inventories and replenishes OR/Anesthesia and emergency carts. Collects drug use evaluation data for quality improvement purposes as required. Operates and maintains complicated pharmacy dispensing equipment. Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile). 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. Enters correct drug, strength, dosage form, and quantity into the patient's medication profile (VISTA or otherwise). Someone authorized to verify accuracy subsequently reviews the medication profile for accuracy. 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. Conducts monthly ward inspection of medical, surgical and intensive car areas and other patient care areas as directed by a supervisor. Maintains, verifies, stocks, and replaces outdated medications and supply items in patient care areas to include automated pharmacy equipment and nursing med rooms. Monitors inventory needs in medical, surgical and intensive care areas, relays this information to the appropriate pharmacy procurement personal. This also includes placing stock in proper storage areas, rotating stock on shelves, and removing/replacing outdated items. Monitors refrigerator temperatures on a daily basis in the pharmacy, all inpatient care areas or as directed by a supervisor. General Duties Performs all the duties of lower graded technicians, if required or assigned by a supervisor. Assists in total quality improvement activities by participating in medical center and service process assessment and action teams and continually seeks to improve services. Completes all department and medical center "mandatory" training requirements. Provides training to new or existing staff so that competencies are maintained. Participates in training of students from local technical vocational schools or colleges. Assists in other patient care areas as deemed necessary by a supervisor to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services. Controlled Substances Assists with inventory management and controlled substance workload if required or assigned by a supervisor. Preparing and filling all inpatient and outpatient orders and requests for controlled substances. Receives new stock and returned stock into inventory by ensuring the accuracy of controlled drug records. Conducts regularly scheduled inventories and interacts with controlled substance inspection officials. Monitors and analyzes orders and distribution patterns to identify questionable circumstances or unusual trends. Communicates any potential problems to supervisor. Provides controlled substance training for technicians, pharmacists, inspectors, students, etc. Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Requirements 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. 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). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. Education or Experience: None required. For all grade levels that accept both education and experience to qualify, equivalent combinations of qualifying education and experience that total at least 100% are qualifying. 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: GS-3 Pharmacy Technician Experience and Education. One year of post-secondary education. OR, Six months of general experience. OR, Student Technician. A student enrolled in an approved nationally accredited pharmacy technician program for an occupation identified in 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(A) or (B) may be appointed on a temporary full-time, part-time or intermittent basis under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(D) for a period not to exceed two years or the duration of the individual's program. GS-4 Pharmacy Technician Experience and Education. Completion of two years of post-secondary coursework related to pharmacy (e.g., 12 semester hours of science and mathematics courses). OR, Completion of one of the following: Six months of experience, that demonstrated knowledge of medication or medical field practice. OR, Successful completion of a military or nationally recognized pharmacy technician education/training program. American Society of Health System Pharmacists® (ASHP), American Pharmacist Association (APHA), Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), PTCB or NHA are examples of acceptable professional organizations recognizing such training programs. NOTE: Training courses recognized by PTCB and NHA are not actual certifications. OR, One year of experience equivalent to next lower grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Ability to follow policies and procedures. Ability to maintain appropriate files. Ability to communicate with patients and other health professionals. Ability to follow both written and verbal instructions. Ability to operate office software/equipment to include, computers, software applications and printers. GS-5 Pharmacy Technician Experience and Education. Successful completion of four years post-secondary education with courses related to pharmacy (e.g., 48 semester hours of science, mathematics, pharmacy) or a bachelor's degree. OR, An associate's degree in pharmacy technician or technology (48 semester hours of concentrated pharmacy technician training). OR, One year of experience equivalent to next lower grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Knowledge of basic pharmacy operations. Knowledge of pharmaceuticals to perform duties in pharmacy functional areas. Knowledge of pharmaceutical nomenclature (including generic, chemical and proprietary names of drug). Ability to fill prescriptions. Ability to use pharmacy information systems or basic pharmacy dispensing equipment with oversight. GS-6 Pharmacy Technician Experience. One year of experience equivalent to next lower grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 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. 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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 3 to 6. Physical Requirements: The work requires the regular and recurring use of a computer monitor and prolonged periods of sitting. However, based on the secondary duty assignments, the work may require regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing for prolonged periods of time, walking, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 40 pounds and bending/stooping. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. 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.