Lauren Velez will play a nurse on the ABC show

Lauren Velez is trading in her "Dexter" badge for a nurse's uniform in a guest arc on " Ugly Betty."

Velez will appear in multiple episodes of the ABC series, where she'll play a nurse. Just who she's nursing, and how she enters the life of Betty ( America Ferrera) and her family, are details that the show is keeping under wraps at the moment.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the cone of silence has to do with the circumstances under which Velez's character enters the show. There are rumors that a major character will be passing away.

Velez plays the tough Lt. Maria Laguerta on Showtime's "Dexter." Her previous series credits include "Oz" and " New York Undercover," and she's done guest spots on all three "Law & Order" series and " Numb3rs."

"Ugly Betty" returns to ABC on Thursday, Jan. 8. An airdate for Velez's first episode hasn't been set.