Pharmacy Technician

Veterans Health Administration • Topeka, KS

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Pharmacy Technician functions primarily in patient care areas and Pharmacy Service within a health care organization. The technician supports medication dispensing and distribution, sterile and non-sterile preparation, inventory control, pharmacy equipment, and quality improvement activities. Duties include working with inpatient and ambulatory or discharge medication needs, maintaining appropriate documentation, and assisting patient care areas as directed by the pharmacy supervisor.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday on an off-tour schedule that varies according to departmental needs. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required, with an exception possible for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under applicable law.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• For the GS-06 grade determination, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower level is required.
• Must demonstrate knowledge of Federal and state laws related to pharmacy practice.
• Must demonstrate knowledge of medication product preparation, storage, and distribution, including products requiring special handling and documentation.
• Must demonstrate ability to use pharmacy information systems or operate pharmacy dispensing equipment.
• Must demonstrate knowledge of basic inventory procedures.
• Must demonstrate ability to communicate with patients and staff and direct questions to appropriate personnel.
• For positions above the full performance level, must pass a national certification exam and hold an active PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) or NHA Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT) credential.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
• Must complete a background/security investigation, online onboarding, and required application documentation.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is evaluated.
• Must meet applicable identification requirements for pre-employment processing; beginning May 7, 2025, non-REAL-ID-compliant driver's licenses or state IDs are not acceptable identification for employment.
• Foreign education used to qualify must be evaluated as equivalent to a conventional U.S. program by an appropriate credential-evaluation organization; applicable foreign education claims must be accompanied by a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript.
• Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment.

Nice To Haves

• Inpatient and outpatient experience.

Responsibilities

• Read and interpret prescriptions; obtain the correct medication or material, strength, and dosage form; calculate and measure quantities; label prescriptions; and record required information on the pharmacy copy of the prescription or order.
• Dispense medications in ambulatory care or discharge situations after a pharmacist's final check.
• Independently fill first-dose medications, missing doses, and inpatient unit-dose carts without secondary review.
• Repackage medications in unit-of-use packaging, label packages including barcodes, record required information in replenishment or repackaging logs, and document items in the unit-dose computer package; ensure repackaged unit-dose medications are checked by a pharmacist or advanced practice technician before dispensing.
• Prepare IV admixtures, including cytotoxic agents, investigational drugs, and other hazardous drugs, in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Use appropriate aseptic technique and sterile procedures when preparing and handling sterile products; select and measure ingredients, prepare and inspect final products for accuracy and clarity, label them including barcodes, and deliver them after a pharmacist's final check.
• Maintain predetermined automatic replenishment and ward-stock levels in patient care areas; independently restock to established levels, monitor inventory needs, label and deliver stock, rotate items, remove or replace outdated stock, and document dispensing in the applicable computer package.
• Assist with pharmacy inventory management by maintaining adequate medication and supply stocks for dispensing.
• Maintain clean and orderly work areas.
• Compound or reconstitute simple non-sterile oral or external medications, including calculating and converting weights and measures.
• Receive controlled-substance stock in accordance with VHA regulations, record transactions in the VistA Controlled Substances Software package, and ensure receipt is witnessed by an accountable officer or designee.
• Operate pharmacy equipment and perform preventive maintenance; provide technical assistance to biomedical and manufacturer service technicians during equipment repair or replacement.
• Coordinate completion of assigned monthly ward inspections; remove or replace outdated items and excessive medication quantities and document actions using appropriate forms and procedures.
• Answer questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding drug distribution.
• Monitor refrigerator temperatures and document them as appropriate.
• Assist with data collection for quality improvement and participate in quality and performance improvement activities.
• Inventory and replenish emergency carts.
• Perform duties of lower-grade technicians as required and assist in other patient care areas as directed by the pharmacy supervisor.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Eligible employees may receive credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income and other eligibility limits; the subsidy may cover up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, up to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional Federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term-life, and long-term-care insurance; many Federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed