Pharmacy Technician

Veterans Health Administration • Oklahoma City, OK

11d

About The Position

The Pharmacy Technician assists pharmacists in providing optimal care and timely service in accordance with the mission, vision, and goals of the OKC VA Healthcare System and Pharmacy. At this grade level, technicians are nationally certified and work autonomously, using independent judgment to perform a full range of pharmacy duties. Technicians above the full performance level may mentor and train lower-grade technicians.

The role includes prescription preparation and dispensing support; medication and supply storage, inventory, and inspection; operation of automated dispensing and unit-dose systems; non-sterile and sterile compounding; and support for medication distribution to hospital areas. The technician also assists with training pharmacy staff and students, responds to questions about drug distribution, and alerts pharmacists to potential therapeutic problems.

Work is performed primarily in inpatient pharmacy and outpatient care areas, with potential exposure to communicable diseases and, in some cases, hazardous or toxic drugs and chemicals. The work areas are adequately heated and ventilated, and safety precautions are required. The position has various tours, including 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m., 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.–midnight, with schedules based on service needs and rotations on weekends and holidays.

Requirements

• For the GS-7 grade, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6).
• Active national certification for positions above the full performance level: PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) or NHA Certified Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT).
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Knowledge of pharmacy technician principles, practices, concepts, and theories sufficient to perform sound independent work.
• Knowledge of computerized prescription processing and entry of prescriptions and medication orders, or an electronic equivalent.
• Ability to resolve pharmacy or medication issues with healthcare team members, Veterans, and external customers.
• Ability to train developmental pharmacy technicians and students.
• Ability to dispense medications or sterile products in accordance with applicable regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to troubleshoot automated dispensing equipment or technology platforms and databases.
• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Selected applicants must undergo a background/security investigation, complete onboarding, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program; applicable applicants are subject to pre-employment drug testing.
• The position requires a 1- or 2-year trial period.

Responsibilities

• Accurately interpret, fill, and prepare prescriptions with appropriate medications or medical supplies for pharmacist verification.
• Maintain clean, orderly work areas and ensure stock and equipment are properly placed.
• Store and secure medications and supplies according to USP and VA guidelines, including high-risk, look-alike/sound-alike, hazardous, controlled, corrosive, flammable, and refrigerated items.
• Receive, check, rotate, and stock items from pharmacy procurement, identifying and reconciling discrepancies.
• Use automated dispensing equipment in accordance with safety and quality-assurance procedures, report malfunctions, and record expiration dates in the system upon receipt.
• Conduct monthly inspections of assigned areas to ensure appropriate medication storage and remove expired drugs.
• Compound or reconstitute non-sterile oral or external medications, calculate and measure ingredients, manufacture products, inspect and label final products, maintain records, and obtain pharmacist verification.
• Follow USP 797/800 guidelines when compounding sterile preparations, including ophthalmic, cardioplegic, TPN, hazardous, IV, and PCA products.
• Prepare uncomplicated and complicated parenteral admixtures; interpret orders, measure and mix ingredients, inspect, label, document, and submit products for pharmacist verification and delivery.
• Operate pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment, including balances and mixing machines.
• Answer drug-distribution questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel and alert pharmacists to potential basic therapeutic problems such as duplicate therapy.
• Assist with training and orientation of new technicians, interns, and students and participate in the pharmacy training program.
• Review medications prepared by another pharmacy employee for dispensing to hospital areas.
• Inventory and replenish emergency trays; operate and maintain automated unit-dose dispensing systems; inspect packaged items; ensure repackaged dosage forms are labeled properly; and maintain repackaging records.
• Determine floor-stock and external-medication needs using policies, schedules, inventory levels, and usage reports; fill ward prescriptions from automatic replenishment reports; inspect medication storage areas; and remove expired or deteriorated drugs.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; eligibility depends on position type.
• Annual leave accrual may be credited for prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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