ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Travel nurses across the state said they have their bags packed for Central Florida if the omicron variant ramps up.

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There’s a nursing shortage happening on top of the surge in COVID-19 cases, and predictions for what it could mean for the area don’t look good.

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A recruiter for hospitals told Channel 9 they’ve been busy getting as many registered nurses as they can lined up to help.

A Florida nurse workforce report said there were estimated shortfalls back in 2019, and they’re only expected to get worse.

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In 2035, the report predicts the Orlando, Kissimmee and Sanford area will have a shortage of more than 1,600 nurses.

The Villages could fare even worse, with more than 2,600 nursing positions predicted to sit unfilled.

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