analyze healthcare and managerial indicators after nursing personnel upsizing. a retrospective, descriptive study was conducted using data from computer systems of a university hospital in southern Brazil. Healthcare and managerial indicators related to the first half of 2013 and 2014 were statistically analyzed. increases of 40.0% in the number of nurses and 16.0% in the number of nursing technicians led to reductions of 12.0% in the number of sickness absences, 21.8% in positive balance for compensatory time off, 92.0% in paid overtime. Reductions of 75.0% in pressure ulcer rates, 10.5% in the number of falls and 50.0% in infections due to indwelling catheter use were also observed. nursing staff upsizing caused a positive impact on managerial and healthcare indicators and helped qualify care and improve work conditions for the nursing team.