Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. These positions are open to current Finger Lakes VHA employees.

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

Clinical

• The Clinical Pharmacist advises and aids prescribers on appropriate selection of drug therapy, monitoring for efficacy, side effects and clinical outcomes.
• Provides patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicates relevant findings and/or recommendations to other health care providers. Monitoring will include prospective review and intervention in:
  • Therapeutic appropriateness of a patient's drug regimen
  • Therapeutic duplication in the patient's drug regimen
  • Appropriateness of the route and method of administration
  • Degree of patient compliance with the prescribed drug regimen
  • Drug-drug, drug-food, drug-laboratory, or drug disease interactions
  • Clinical and pharmacokinetic laboratory data to evaluate the efficacy of drug therapy and to anticipate side effects, toxicity, or adverse effects
  • Physical signs and clinical symptoms relevant to the patient's drug therapy
• Provides medication counseling to patients, caregivers, and family members.
• Serves as a drug information resource by providing up-to-date drug information to prescribers, nurses, other health care professionals, patients, and caregivers, including input during medical emergencies.
• Participates in the medication reconciliation process as it applies to new outpatient prescription orders, non- VA and remote medications to ensure the profile accurately reflects the medications the patient is taking. This may include adding non-VA medications or discontinuing duplicate medications or those the patient is not taking.
• Recommends formulary alternatives and completes non-formulary consults as assigned.

Distributive

• Responsible for the dispensing of drugs, including controlled substances, to assure that legal and agency regulations are followed, and that proper and complete record keeping is maintained.
• Reviews/interprets all medication orders for appropriateness, drug selection, dosage, route of administration and the amount, and verifies drug/supply product prior to dispensing.
• Verifies and/or corrects medication orders entered by providers.
• Reviews medication profiles and monitors for compliance or potential abuse.
• Initiates medication orders for patients per approved scope.
• Assists in maintaining adequate drug stock and supervises prepacking and the operation of automated dispensing equipment.
• Responsible for monitoring incoming Community Care prescriptions via ERx or fax and communicating with outside offices as necessary to ensure VA formulary compliance and safety and efficacy for the patient.

Education

• Assists in orienting and training of new pharmacy employees and students as well as providers.
• Assumes an active role in staff development of peers and provides educational in-services to nursing, medical staff or to other ancillary services.
• Keeps abreast of changes to laws, regulations, and accreditation standards that impact medications and pharmacy program.

Quality Assurance and Improvement

• Reports adverse drug events (ADE), near misses, and medication errors in alignment with VA reporting program.
• Promptly communicates identified areas of improvement to supervisory staff.

Administrative

• Checks, guides, and advises lower-grade co-workers and trainees and is responsible for effectively managing Pharmacy Technicians in their area of responsibility.
• Meets the needs of Pharmacy Service by following scheduled tour of duty and timekeeping rules. Understands the ongoing nature of patient care duties and is aware that coverage may be needed beyond scheduled tours of duty.

Work Schedule:

• Rochester - Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
• Bath - Rotating day, evening, weekend shifts - ranging from 8:00am-7:30pm

Telework: Not authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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.
• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical 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.
• A current unrestricted driving license in a state.

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. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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 accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
• Licensure: Full, current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States 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, an 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.
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English.

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-12 Experience. In addition to the GS-11 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• 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.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12.

Physical Requirements: Some of the work is sedentary, but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, pushing, repetitive use of hands and fingers, and carrying/lifting loads of up to 40 lbs. Work demands the ability to perform tasks requiring rapid mental and muscular coordination functions simultaneously if necessary. Must by physically capable of operating various types of equipment used for the job. Potential for musculoskeletal fatigue due to prolonged standing, sitting or other activities.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• License
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• License
• CV- If longer then two pages
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

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