Job Title

Summary Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Authorized: Position is eligible for EDRP, student loan payment reimbursement. You must meet eligibility requirements in accordance w/VHA policy & submit EDRP application w/in 4 months of your start date. Program approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (1 to 5 years) are determined by VHA Education Loan Repayment Services. Former EDRP participants are ineligible. Contact for questions/assistance. Learn more. Responsibilities VA Careers - Pharmacy: Duties include, but are not limited to: Clinical Providing drug information to the Medical Center staff concerning proper drug selection, optimal dosage and route of administration, recognition and management of drug interactions and reactions, and proper handling and storage of medications Engaging in direct and/or supportive patient care for an aging adult population, which requires knowledge, skills and consideration for specific patient conditions Providing patient education and information on the drugs prescribed upon discharge from the hospital and upon ambulatory care clinic visits Effectively documenting pharmaceutical care in a timely and accurate manner Accessing appropriate patient records for proper evaluations of clinical situations and therapeutic decision making. Access includes but is not limited to VACC (Mission Act), recommending appropriate patient labs (UDS, pharmacokinetics), completing consents, accessing the State Prescription Monitoring Program (SPMP), and being available for consultation to Pain Clinics, PACT or designee. Interviews patients to obtain additional information regarding disease state/drug therapy when evaluating a clinical situation. Consulting with Hematology/Oncology for proper antineoplastic or biologic therapy/dosing. Responsible for entering appropriate and correct drug, strength, dosage form, and quantity into medication profile for all chemotherapy or biologics. Compounding chemotherapy, biologics and hazardous medications utilizing sterile IV technique according to the most recent guidelines. Compounding sterile products, both uncomplicated and complicated, hazardous and non-hazardous, to be delivered in the form of large volume, small volume, infusion syringe, ophthalmic preparations and other complex pharmaceuticals. Interviewing patients to determine a medication history, when necessary, and educates patients on the proper use and expected effects of their medications when the need arises. Consulting with providers on individualized medication treatment plans and communicates recommendations verbally or in writing to the patient's health care provider/team. Developing individualized dosing regimens based on the pharmacokinetics of the drug(s) employed, renal and hepatic function, and other pertinent parameters of the patient in question, and communicates recommendations, either verbally or in writing to the patient's health care provider/team. Dispensing Dispensing medication upon computer-generated orders or written orders of providers, in accordance with dosage form requirements. Inputting and/or verifying medication information into the computer system for outpatient, unit-dose, ward stock, and intravenous admixture programs. Receiving and verifying VA Community Care prescriptions for proper eligibility. Entering properly authorized VACC orders in the VISTA package to process and fill or handles as a PADR medication as required. Contacting VACC provider if a change is required or if the PADR request is denied and advises the VACC provider of a clinically appropriate replacement. Education Participating in the education of VA/Texas Tech postgraduate Pharmacy Residents, undergraduate pharmacy students, and pharmacy technician students as assigned. Assisting in the training of new personnel with routine job duties. Orienting, training and/or instructing employees and students in specific tasks as assigned. Program Management Completing quality assurance audits of clinical programs, drug distribution systems, controlled substance records, and other areas of Pharmacy Service as assigned. Observing stock levels on a daily basis and assists purchasing agent with ordering by maintaining a list of items needed. Receiving controlled substances and enters into stock in accordance with VA Regulations. Identifying safety violations and reports them to the Safety Officer in the pharmacy area. Attending meetings as assigned and disseminates pertinent information to pharmacy staff. Complying with all computer security policies and procedures. Work Schedule: Fulltime, Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Bargaining Unit position 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. 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: 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. Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois ; phone: (312) , or through their Web site at: (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.) Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the graduate is able to provide proof of achieving the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Commission (FPGEC) Certification, which includes passing the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet- Based Test (TOEFL iBT). Licensure: 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. A pharmacist who has, or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16. NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification. Exception. Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. For grade levels above the GS-11, the candidate must be licensed. Failure to Obtain License. In all cases, pharmacists must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unlicensed pharmacist with the written requirement to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Failure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employment. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 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-11 Pharmacist Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following: 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Preferred Experience: VA experience (at least one year) Hospital or retail experience (at least one year) Licensed preceptor Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12. Physical Requirements: moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), heavy carrying (45 pounds and over), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, walking (less than 2 hours), standing (less than 8 hours), near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid may be permitted), emotional and mental stability, seated position (prolonged) and typing and computer use. 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: 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: Accreditation Information: 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. Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois ; phone: (312) , or through their Web site at: (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.) Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the 1 graduate is able to provide proof of achieving the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Commission (FPGEC) Certification, which includes passing the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet- Based Test (TOEFL iBT). NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. NOTE: If your school was accredited by ACPE at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: 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. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.