Pharmacy Technician

Veterans Health Administration • Omaha, NE

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Pharmacy Technician works autonomously, utilizing independent technical judgment and comprehensive working knowledge of complex pharmacy principles and practices. The pharmacy technician has operational responsibility in the pharmacy performing highly complex procedures such as compounding sterile/non-sterile products, inventory inspections, drug packaging, dispensing, distribution, preparing orders or prescriptions, controlled substance management, and maintenance and care equipment.

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 forms 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.
• 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.
• 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).
• For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
• Education or Experience: 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.
• Pharmacy Technician, GS-07: Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6).
• Certification: For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: PTCB as a CPhT. OR NHA as a ExCPT
• Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts and theories providing for sound independent work.
• Knowledge of the computerized prescription process and input of prescriptions and medication orders or electronic equivalent.
• Ability to resolve pharmacy/medication issues with other members of the healthcare team, Veterans and external customers.
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
• Ability to dispense medication or sterile products following all regulations, policies and procedures to ensure safe medication distribution.
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment (ADE) or technology platforms/databases.
• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Nice To Haves

• For positions above the full performance level, the employee must pass a national certification exam and hold an active national certification through either: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). OR National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
• Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6).

Responsibilities

• Assuring appropriate, safe, and accurate medications are dispensed to veterans in an efficient manner.
• Maintaining workflow patterns that assure timely delivery of pharmacy services and ensures accurate documentation and dispensing of pharmaceuticals.
• Effectively organizing workload, solving problems, and achieving established goals.
• Providing patient care utilizing an in-depth knowledge of specialized areas of pharmacy practice.
• Maintaining and understanding the operation of pharmacy equipment and automation, such as ScriptPro, TCG-Rx, BD Cato, and Pyxis.
• Assisting staff and patients, either by phone or in person, concerning drug distribution, refill requests, mail, and general triaging of requests for the pharmacists.
• Documenting patient requests as necessary in CPRS and alerting the appropriate provider.
• Assisting in assuring that pharmacy programs are compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements (i.e., Joint Commission, FDA, ASHP, DEA, OIG, etc.).
• Actively participating in the procurement process supporting just in time inventory management.
• Serving as a back-up procurement technician where responsibilities may include ordering or receiving product.
• Processing of invoices using the VistA Drug Accountability system.
• Inspecting all areas of the facility outside of the pharmacy where medications are dispensed, administered, or stored, including medication carts, automated medication dispensing cabinets, (Pyxis Medstations™), physical cabinets and drawers, supply carts, refrigerators, crash carts, and emergency kits.
• Interpreting pharmacy orders; obtains medication in the correct strength and dosage form; determines proper amount and prepares product; affixes proper label; and documents proper information.
• Preparing non-sterile compounds independently for dispensing to patients or other health care providers for use in clinical areas.
• Compounding sterile products to be delivered in the form of large volume, small volume, and other complex pharmaceuticals such as chemotherapy.
• Completing documentation and using knowledge of safe handling and disposition of hazardous materials used in pharmacy.
• Dispensing controlled substances according to current policies and procedures and standards established by DEA, FDA, VA, and Joint Commission.
• Effectively utilizing the Veterans Integrated Systems Technology Architecture (VistA), Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), and Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) computer systems and other automated pharmacy equipment and computer software systems.
• Accurately interpreting, filling, and readying prescriptions with appropriate medications for pharmacist verification.
• Appropriately restocking controlled substances items in automated secured cabinets (i.e., Pyxis) in pharmacy or throughout medical center, as assigned.
• Documenting all controlled substance-related transactions as indicated by VA and DEA guidelines.
• Assuring that inventory counts are correct at the time of restocking.
• Ensuring that proper handoff occurs when receiving or delivering controlled substances, always assuring that these medications are never left unsecured.
• Reporting unresolvable discrepancies to immediate area supervisor for resolution.
• Assisting in investigating, witnessing, and resolving discrepancies.
• Complying with all laws, regulations, directives, policies, and procedures applying to the dispensing, storage, transfer, inventory, and accountability of controlled substances.
• Assisting inspectors with the inventory and accountability inspections.
• Promoting a patient-focused, team based multidisciplinary model of patient care.
• Supporting formulary management principles and effective drug use criteria.
• Identifying basic therapeutic problems such as patient allergies and duplicate drug therapy and alerting the pharmacists to the possible need for clinical intervention.
• Calling patients to obtain information and to relay prescription information.
• Using databases and spreadsheets to assist pharmacists and other health care professionals to monitor and track patient information.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.
• Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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