Hospital Attendant - Animal Medical Center of Seattle
Compensation: $18-20 per hour, depending on experience + swing differential (+$2/hr, 4pm–12am) and overnight differential (+$4.50/hr, 12am–8am) opportunities depending on schedule.
Full-time and part-time opportunity in Shoreline, Washington at Animal Medical Center of Seattle
Schedule: Swing shift or overnight shift availability preferred
The Hospital Attendant is an entry-level veterinary support position responsible for helping maintain a safe, clean, organized, and well-prepared hospital environment for patients, clients, and staff. The role supports hospital-wide operations, with patient-care areas and urgent hospital needs taking priority over routine tasks. Hospital Attendants are expected to develop situational awareness, learn hospital flow, recognize changing needs, and adjust priorities appropriately while working within their training and assigned scope.
Why Join Animal Medical Center of Seattle (AMCS)
At AMCS, part of Ethos Veterinary Health, collaboration, accountability, and clear communication are more than values - they shape the way the hospital operates every day. Leadership is accessible, teamwork is genuine, and we are intentional about continuing to strengthen our teams, processes, and services over time. We value strong technician utilization and encourage our LVTs to work at the top of their skillset as integral members of the medical team, with financial and mentorship support for technicians pursuing VTS credentials.
In your day-to-day, you will:
Hospital readiness and environmental care
- Maintains hospital-wide cleanliness and readiness, including patient-care areas, wards, kennels, exam rooms, public spaces, bathrooms, hallways, break areas, exterior patient areas, and other assigned spaces.
- Performs routine and as-needed cleaning tasks including sweeping, mopping, disinfecting, waste and recycling removal, laundry support, spill response, and general organization.
- Uses hospital-approved cleaning and disinfection procedures, including appropriate infection-control and isolation practices.
- Completes regular hospital readiness rounds to identify and address visible cleanliness, clutter, waste, supply, and equipment needs before they interfere with patient care or hospital operations.
- Maintains patient comfort through a clean, dry, appropriately prepared environment and assists with kennel/cage turnover as directed.
Patient-care support and situational awareness
- Observes hospital activity and adjusts workflow when patient-care needs, urgent requests, or changes in clinical workload take priority over routine tasks.
- Responds promptly to appropriate requests from the veterinary team and communicates when a task must be delayed because of a higher-priority need.
- Treats animals kindly and supports patient comfort. May assist with patient transport, walking, weighing, positioning, lifting, or basic restraint after training and when directed by the veterinary team.
- Recognizes and promptly reports changes or concerns related to patient condition, safety, equipment, or the environment to an appropriate veterinary team member. The Hospital Attendant does not independently diagnose, interpret, or direct medical care.
- Keeps patient-care pathways and workspaces clear and helps reset areas following patient use so the next team member can work efficiently.
Stocking, supplies, and equipment readiness
- Restocks Treatment, ICU, laboratory, exam rooms, wards, and other assigned areas according to established stocking standards and visual layout guides.
- Keeps commonly used supplies organized, accessible, and within established par levels; avoids overfilling or mixing designated storage locations.
- Checks assigned equipment for readiness, including organization and charging of pumps and placement of routine monitoring accessories and supplies.
- Reports low stock, missing supplies, damaged items, or equipment concerns to the appropriate team member. Does not independently repair clinical equipment unless specifically trained and authorized.
- Prepares approved routine supplies (for example, flushes or bandage materials) after higher-priority hospital needs have been addressed.
Communication, teamwork, and development
- Communicates respectfully and effectively with veterinary assistants, technicians, veterinarians, client service staff, supervisors, and other hospital team members.
- Asks for clarification when priorities conflict, when a task is outside current training, or when additional help is needed to complete a task safely.
- Participates in department meetings, one-on-one meetings, training, and continuing education as requested.
- Learns hospital flow, terminology, infection-control expectations, patient handling principles, and foundational veterinary support skills as part of development within the role.
- Shares holiday/weekend coverage as scheduled and performs other duties as assigned.
What You Bring
Knowledge and skills
- Works effectively in a fast-paced, changing veterinary hospital environment while maintaining professionalism and composure.
- Recognizes competing priorities, follows direction, and communicates when assistance or clarification is needed.
- Demonstrates developing situational awareness and appropriately shifts between routine responsibilities and higher-priority hospital needs.
- Follows written and verbal instructions, checklists, safety procedures, and standardized stocking and cleaning expectations.
- Communicates professionally and respectfully with coworkers, supervisors, clients, and the public.
- Possesses basic computer literacy and can learn hospital software and equipment functions required for the role.
- Demonstrates a commitment to animal welfare, infection control, teamwork, reliability, and continuous learning.
Education and experience
- High school diploma or GED preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Previous veterinary experience is not required; experience in animal care, hospitality, custodial/environmental services, customer service, or another fast-paced team environment is helpful.
- Interest in veterinary medicine and willingness to learn are strongly preferred.
Working Conditions
- Work is performed in a veterinary hospital environment with frequent exposure to animal noise, medical equipment, cleaning products, bodily fluids, odors, and emotionally stressful situations.
- Role requires frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching, pushing/pulling, and repetitive cleaning or stocking activity throughout the shift.
- Work involves lifting and moving patients, supplies, and inventory up to 40 pounds independently and heavier items/patients with appropriate assistance or equipment.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be used as required and may include gloves, eye protection, gowns, masks, and other hospital-specified PPE.
- Schedule may include days, evenings, overnights, weekends, and holidays based on hospital staffing needs.
Location Highlight
Shoreline sits just north of Seattle, offering easy access to the city while keeping a quieter, more residential feel. The area is close to Lake Washington and Puget Sound, with parks, trails, and waterfront nearby, and connects quickly to downtown Seattle via light rail and I-5. It's a convenient, livable location with the full range of Pacific Northwest amenities close at hand.
About Ethos Veterinary Health
Ethos Veterinary Health, part of the NVA Group, is where you come to practice world-class medicine, and help shape what veterinary care becomes next.
Across our network of 140 specialty and emergency hospitals, science moves forward, standards are elevated, and innovation is put into practice every day. You'll work alongside respected veterinary leaders in academic-caliber hospitals designed for learning, teaching, and discovery.
Here, mentorship is a two-way street. You'll share your expertise, learn from others, and continue to grow, clinically, professionally, and personally.
At Ethos, you inspire hope, deliver exceptional care, and pursue veterinary medicine at its highest level, together.
Join Us
At Ethos, this isn't just a job, it's an opportunity to practice medicine at the highest level and help shape the future of veterinary care.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Ethos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ethos does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business need.