Clinical Pharmacist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Grand Junction (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Grand Junction, CO seeks a Pharmacist to provide timely and accurate preparation and dispensing of medications for inpatients and outpatients, exercising professional judgment on dosing and regimens.

The role rotates through Outpatient, Inpatient (IV Admixture and Unit Dose) and Clinical areas, focusing on safe, cost-effective drug therapy. Licensure and ACPE-verified education are required to practice pharmacy in the United States.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an ACPE-accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a BS Pharmacy and/or Pharm.D.
• Foreign graduates must provide FPGEC Certification including FPGEE and TOEFL iBT.
• Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by law.
• Full, current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a U.S. state/territory/DC, with registration maintained as required.

Responsibilities

• Timely and accurate preparation and dispensing of medications for inpatients and outpatients.
• Exercise professional judgment in dosing and therapeutic regimens.
• Rotate through Pharmacy Service areas: Outpatient, Inpatient (IV Admixture and Unit dose) and Clinical areas.
• Facilitate safe, cost-effective drug therapy for patients.

Skills

Professional pharmacy practice

Communication skills

Regulations & accreditation knowledge

Drug therapy monitoring

Education

BS Pharmacy

Pharm.D.

Job description

The primary functions include the timely and accurate preparation and dispensing of medications to both inpatients and outpatients. Must exercise professional judgment in matters of appropriate dosing and therapeutic regimes. Rotates through different areas of Pharmacy Service: Outpatient, Inpatient (IV Admixture and Unit dose) and Clinical areas. The primary goal is facilitation of appropriate, safe, and cost effective drug therapy for our patients.

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 60602-5109; phone: [phone], or through their Web site at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/. (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).

English Language Proficiency:

• Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

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.

Grade Determinations:

GS-11 Pharmacist: Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist:

• 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 (GS-11), or
  • Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). 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.

Reference:

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

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:

The physical requirements for this position include light lifting and carrying (15-25 pounds) with occasional heavier lifting and carrying, straight pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, using fingers, repeated bending, walking, and standing (up to 8 hours), with the ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as needed. The job also necessitates adherence to department and VHA policies, and involves sitting, climbing stairs, shelf stocking, lifting up to 50 pounds, and requires dexterity of the hand and wrist, as well as arm strength. Activities align with caring for Veterans and ensuring personal safety and security. Duties involve moderate lifting, walking, bending, stooping, standing, pushing, and pulling.