Objective: to compare the results recommended by the literature with the existing nursing staff of the orthopedic surgery center of a large hospital. Method: a descriptive study performed through a narrative review of the literature, combined with experience reports. Nine scientific articles and two theses on the theme published in the past 15 years were analyzed. After that, calculation of ideal number of staff members for the described unit was performed and then compared with the real staff of the institution. Results: we identified the necessity to hire 17 new staff members, including technicians and scrub nurses to work only in the operating rooms. Conclusion: The values found by applying the personnel dimensioning model can help plan a framework for the nursing care, allowing for enhanced quality of care and customer surgical sector productivity.