Zombie Nurse Costume
Bring the undead to the ER with this classic, creepy look.
The Zombie Nurse is a staple of horror, blending a classic professional uniform with the terrifying aesthetic of the undead. Whether you are going for a classic blood-splattered medical look or a creepy, masked Silent Hill vibe, this costume is a Halloween favorite. The outfit consists of a distressed nurse's dress, a matching headpiece, fake blood, and gruesome makeup.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $25–65
Try it on
See yourself as Zombie Nurse
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
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Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Zombie Nurse costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Zombie Nurse costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
White or off-white nurse dress
A classic short-sleeved medical dress with a collar, zipper front, and button details, ideally made of cotton or polyester.
DIY: Use an old white button-down shirt or scrub top paired with a white skirt.
Nurse headband
A white fabric headpiece featuring a red medical cross symbol in the center.
DIY: Cut a headband shape out of white cardstock, draw a red cross on it, and bobby-pin it to your hair.
Fake blood
Thick, realistic red stage blood for splattering across the uniform and skin.
DIY: Mix corn syrup, red food coloring, and a drop of blue food coloring with a splash of chocolate syrup.
Toy stethoscope
A simple plastic stethoscope accessory, ideally dirtied up with dark paint or fake blood.
DIY: Use old black headphones draped around your neck as a substitute.
Thigh-high stockings
White thigh-high socks or stockings, distressed with runs, tears, and faux blood splatters.
DIY: Take an old pair of white tights, cut them off at the thigh, and tear small holes in them.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Zombie Nurse costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Lay the white nurse dress and stockings flat outside or on a protective tarp.
- 2
Flick and splatter fake blood across the dress and stockings using a paint brush or toothbrush for a realistic spray pattern.
- 3
Use dark grey or brown eyeshadow rubbed onto the fabric to simulate dirt, grime, and wear.
- 4
Once the dress is dry, put on the stockings and the nurse dress.
- 5
Place the nurse headband on your head, securing it with bobby pins if necessary.
- 6
Drape the blood-splattered toy stethoscope around your neck.
- 7
Apply zombie makeup to your face, neck, and hands to complete the undead look.
Makeup & hair
Apply a pale foundation base, then use dark purple and grey eyeshadows around the eyes and cheekbones to look gaunt. Add fake blood dripping from the mouth and messy, teased hair with hairspray for a disheveled, undead appearance.
Zombie Nurse for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with a Zombie Doctor or a Zombie Patient in blood-splattered hospital scrubs.
- group
- Form an entire undead medical team, including a zombie surgeon, zombie nurse, and zombie EMT.
- kids
- A kid-friendly version uses less graphic blood and focuses on a cute, slightly spooky face paint design.
- Plus size
- Look for stretch-knit scrub dresses or oversized white button-downs for a comfortable, adjustable fit.
- pet
- Dress your dog in a simple white dog t-shirt with a red cross drawn on the back.
Tips
- Let the fake blood dry completely on the costume before putting it on to avoid staining car seats or furniture.
- Wear neutral-colored undergarments beneath the white dress, as thin costume fabric can be see-through.
- Carry a small bottle of fake blood with you for quick touch-ups throughout the night.
- Wear comfortable white or black sneakers, as you will likely be walking around a lot.
Zombie Nurse costume FAQ
- How do I make the fake blood look realistic on the fabric?
- Mix a little bit of blue or green food coloring into red food coloring to darken it, or use a commercial 'scab blood' which dries to a realistic dark crusty color.
- Can I wash the costume after putting fake blood on it?
- Most commercial fake bloods will stain white fabric permanently, so treat this as a one-time-use distressed costume or embrace the permanent stains.
- How do I get the Silent Hill nurse look?
- For a Silent Hill style, wrap your face in tea-stained gauze bandages, wear a dirty, yellowish-brown nurse dress, and adopt a jerky, contorted posture.
Did you know? The creepy 'bubble head' zombie nurses from the Silent Hill video game franchise were designed to represent the protagonist's anxiety and memories of his hospitalized wife.