Clinical Pharmacist

Veterans Health Administration • Aurora, CO

7d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is an inpatient-focused, intermittent (PRN) role serving at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado VISN 4.2. The clinical pharmacist will be responsible for veterans receiving care on an inpatient unit, interventional platform, dialysis, imaging, emergency department, residential rehabilitation programs, community living center, and outpatient clinics.

Requirements

• 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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• Graduate of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree.
• Full, current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia.
• The pharmacist must maintain current registration if this is a requirement for maintaining full, current, and unrestricted licensure.
• Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) or Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program (for GS-12 determination).
• The work involves long periods of sitting, standing, walking, and computer usage.
• The work requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, lifting.
• The incumbent must be a mature, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, demonstrating a positive attitude, compassion, courtesy and concern for staff and patients.
• The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction.
• This position requires lifting up to 25 pounds, visual acuity to confirm drug order and packaging correctness, standing for periods of 30 minutes or greater, dexterity for manipulating compounding equipment.

Nice To Haves

• VA experience
• Inpatient or Emergency Department experience
• Board certification (BCPS)
• Completion of post graduate year-1 residency

Responsibilities

• Provides appropriate recommendations for the selection of drug therapy based upon the pharmaceutical principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; monitoring for efficacy, side effects, toxicity, adverse effects, and clinical outcomes; and advises prescribers as appropriate.
• Provides consultation for patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring.
• Communicates relevant findings and/or recommendations, both orally and in writing, to other pharmacists and health care providers in charge of the patient.
• Participates in patient care rounds, reviews charts, evaluates pertinent laboratory data, drug-drug and drug-nutrient interactions, monitors for adverse drug effects, and screens for allergies.
• Performs medication reconciliation at all transitions of care, including updating the medication profile to reflect an accurate, active list of VA and non-VA medications.
• Assesses drug safety and efficacy, including evaluation of physical symptoms.
• Reports adverse drug events (ADE), near misses, and medication errors in alignment with VA ADERS reporting program.
• Participates in medical emergencies including code teams (if BLS or ACLS certified) and emergency preparedness activities.
• Facilitates pharmacy service policies and procedures to manage recalls and medication shortage situations, including substituting alternate dosage strengths and instructions of the same medication to equal the prescribed dose and schedule.
• Reviews all medication orders for appropriateness, drug selection, dosage, route of administration and the amount, prior to dispensing.
• Ensures all medication orders are entered into the electronic patient medical record.
• Fills all orders in a timely fashion; review of the patient's allergy history, drug-drug, drug-nutrient, drug-laboratory and drug-disease state interactions and assessment for clinical relevance should be performed and dealt with appropriately.
• Reviews medication profiles and monitors for compliance or potential abuse.
• Selects, compounds, dispenses and fills a range of drugs including extemporaneous preparations, special formulations, ophthalmics (subconjunctival and intravitreal injections), narcotics, investigational drugs, oncologic agents, etc., in both outpatient and inpatient areas.
• Maintains adequate drug stock, inspects drug storage areas, supervises pre-packing and the operation of automated dispensing equipment.
• Supervises the activities of support personnel.
• Ensures drugs dispensed are completely and correctly labeled and packaged in full compliance with Federal rules and regulations.
• Maintains his/her professional competency by keeping abreast of current medical and pharmaceutical literature, new drugs and therapies, participating in continuing education programs, and applies this knowledge in his/her daily duties.
• Provides education to health care providers regarding medication use.
• Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program consisting of students, externs, interns, residents, and professional and non-professional staff members.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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)
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level