Duties
VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
FUNCTIONS/SCOPE OF DUTIES:
1) The Pharmacist recommends appropriate selection of drug therapy based upon the pharmaceutical principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; monitoring for efficacy, side effects and clinical outcome; and after review with a Clinical Pharmacist, advises prescribers as appropriate.
2) Provides patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicates relevant findings and/or recommendation is to other health care providers in charge of the patient both orally and in writing. 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
3) Performs continuous evaluation of prescribed medications to assure optimal drug therapy.
4) Provides medication counseling to patients.
5) Serves as a drug information resource by providing up-to-date drug information to prescribers, other health care professionals, patients and caregivers.
6) Reports adverse drug events (ADE), near misses, and medication errors in alignment with VA ADERS reporting program.
7) Recommends formulary alternatives as appropriate.
8) Provides pharmacokinetic consultation, including dosing vancomycin and aminoglycosides, in accordance with local policy.
9) Participates in quality assurance programs through submission of medication errors.
10) Implements P&T Committee policies including therapeutic interchanges and automatic substitutions to include appropriate patient and provider education.
11) Enters supply orders appropriate for patient care per facility policy.
12) Adjudicates Community Care prescriptions, including assessing authorizations, determining eligibility, prescription evaluation (including appropriateness of prescription), nonformulary management, PDMP inquiries, and other relevant interventions.
13) Serves as a role model and preceptor to pharmacy students and residents.
Non-Routine duties which may be assigned:
- Completes medication histories including patient interviews.
- Supports medication reconciliation at all transitions of care, including updating the medication profile to reflect an accurate, active list of VA and non-VA medications based on current policy and/or individual scope of practice.
- Assesses drug safely and efficacy, including evaluation of physical symptoms.
- Participates in the medical center medication utilization evaluation (MUE) program.
- Provides support to discharge processes through medication reconciliation, discharge counseling, and documentation.
- Duties that support pharmacy operations that fall within or below grade level. Duties assigned above grade level may not be or exceed 25% of the employee's time.
Dispensing
- Reviews all medication orders for appropriateness, drug selection, dosage, route of administration and the amount, prior to dispensing.
- Ensures all medication orders are entered into the electronic patient medical record.
- Fills all orders in a timely fashion; review of the patient's allergy history, drug-drug, drug nutrient, drug-laboratory and drug-disease state interactions and assessment for clinical relevance should be performed and dealt with appropriately.
- Reviews medication profiles and monitors for compliance or potential abuse, alerting the Clinical Pharmacist and assisting in resolving problems as encountered.
- Selects, compounds, and fills a range of drugs including extemporaneous preparations, special formulations, ophthalmic (subconjunctival and intravitreal injections), narcotics, investigational drugs, oncolytic agents, etc., in both outpatient and inpatient areas. Adequate quality assurance procedures shall be followed as applicable.
- Maintains adequate drug stock, inspects drug storage areas, assists with prepacking and the operation of automated dispensing equipment.
- Supervises the activities of support personnel.
- Ensures drugs dispensed are completely and correctly labeled and packaged in full compliance with Federal rules and regulations.
Work Schedule: 7 on/ 7 off (Compressed Tour)
Compressed/Flexible:Available
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. The EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
Learn more
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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.
- 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).
Qualifications
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. (1) 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. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy). TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED (2) 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). YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF FPGEC CERTIFICATION WITH THE APPLICATION PACKAGE
- 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.YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF CURRENT LICENSE WITH THE APPLICATION PACKAGE.
- English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 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-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level)
Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following:
1. Have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) which includes Knowledge of Professional Pharmacy Practices, Residency accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and Fellowship Training Program accredited by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)
OR
2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.
Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff.
3. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
4. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
Preferred Experience: 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.
References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standards
http://vaww1.va.gov/ohrm/HRLibrary/Dir-Policy.htm
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.
Physical Requirements: Lifting/carrying up to 40lbs; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 1 hours); Standing (up to 2 hours); Repeated kneeling (up to 1 hour); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Ability to distinguish colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability.
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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/07/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12771231.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.