Pharmacy Technician

Veterans Health Administration; Hines (IL); On-site; USD 62,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Illinois is seeking a Pharmacy Technician to work in the Inpatient Pharmacy within the VA Medical Center, with potential service to CBOCs and satellite locations.

You will fill, dispense, procure, store, prepare, review, distribute and control medications for inpatients and outpatients under pharmacist supervision. Shifts are 2:00pm–10:30pm; weekends/holidays as needed.

Qualifications

• Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment.
• If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript to receive credit for that education.

Responsibilities

• Reads and interprets prescriptions; obtains proper medication in the correct strength and dosage form.
• Dispenses medications after pharmacist final check in ambulatory care or discharge situations.
• Performs unit-dose preparation and cart replenishment for inpatients; fills ward stock.
• Maintains inventory and restocks carts and storage areas; rotates stock and removes expired items.
• Compounds and reconstitutes non-sterile medications; handles hazardous materials per SOPs.
• Performs sterile compounding of parenteral medications as needed for patient care.
• Supports training of technicians and students; assists in other pharmacy service areas as needed.

Skills

Prescription interpretation

Pharmacy operations

Inventory management

Sterile compounding

Medication dispensing

Job description

• Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

This position functions primarily in the inpatient care areas and the Pharmacy Service within the VA Medical Center. The incumbent practices as a Pharmacy Technician in the Inpatient Pharmacy of Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital that also can service Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC)s, satellite locations, and ambulatory care locations.

Key Responsibilities

The incumbent is responsible for the filling, dispensing, procurement, storage, preparation, review, distribution, and control of medications/other pharmaceutical products to patients, inpatient and outpatient treatment units, and research investigators. The work product directly affects the health of inpatients and outpatients.

FUNCTIONS OR SCOPES OF PRACTICE: Reads and interprets prescriptions, obtains proper medication or material in the proper strength and dosage form, determines proper amount and counts, pours, or measures the medications; affixes proper label; and records required data on Pharmacy's copy of prescription/order. After a final check by a pharmacist, dispenses medication in ambulatory care or discharge situations.

For unit-dose medications, performs final review of medication when prepared by another technician, to be dispensed to inpatient areas (med-carts, ward stock), and/or fills unit-dose carts independently without secondary review when necessary. Inventories and replenishes emergency carts with appropriate medications and supplies. Compounds and/or reconstitutes oral or external medications (non-sterile).

This includes calculating and converting to proper weights and measures the amount of drug or solution to be used. After prescription/order(s) are reviewed by a pharmacist for therapeutic propriety, reviews orders for technical accuracy and converts the order, if necessary, so that the item dispensed corresponds to the drug and dose ordered. Monitors inventory needs in-patient care areas, relays this information to the appropriate Pharmacy personal.

This also includes placing stock in proper storage areas, rotating stock on shelves and removing/replacing outdated items. Understands requirements of USP 795, USP 797, USP 800, disposal of hazardous materials, safe medication distribution and electronic prescription processing. Performs sterile compounding of parenteral medications, including hazardous and chemotherapy hazardous medications when deemed necessary for patient care.

Successfully passes compounding personnel competency requirements and performs duties in compliance with departmental/facility SOPs and USP 797 and USP 800 standards. General Duties: As deemed necessary by the pharmacy supervisor, assists in other patient care areas (including outpatient pharmacy services) to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services. However, primary assignments of work schedule and tours would involve inpatient pharmacy services.

Inpatient services may include such areas as aseptic admixture preparation including cytotoxic agents, automatic and on-demand ward stock replenishment, maintenance and operation of automated prepackaging storage and dispensing equipment, assembly and documentation of controlled substance requests and properly packaging with documentation of single unit of use medications.

Procurement Stock and Maintenance: Utilize appropriate inventory measures such as just-in-time, usage rates, stock levels, contract adherence, return of expired medications, and inventory turns to limit medication waste and comply with all applicable policies. Manage different stock items within and outside of pharmacy automation and alerts appropriate personnel for reordering purposes or of any issues with restocking.

Responsible for appropriately restocking various assigned stations satisfactorily prior to shift end. Education: Ensure that all facility mandatory training/requirements (e.g., fire and safety, prevention of sexual harassment, customer service and prevention of violence in the workplace) are accomplished within established timetables including proper documentation of compliance in appropriate filing system.

Participate in the training of other pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, PGY-1, and PGY-2 residents at Edward Hines Jr, VA Hospital. Administration/Technical Support: Open and sort main distributing contents to appropriate areas and packages mail according to mailing system utilized. Plan and complete tasks based upon established protocols, standard operating procedures, individual instructions, and/or accepted pharmacy practices.

Perform clerical or other functions as requested. VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 2:00pm-10:30pm. (rotating weekends and holidays off tours as needed for patient care needs) Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Requirements & 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $61592 – $80007/yr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-09.

How many openings are available?

There are 3 openings for this position.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Internal Search' hiring path.