Abstract
Nursing workload is high with patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The initial 24 hours of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation have the highest workload, quantified using the Nursing Activities Score. Presence of COVID-19 and delayed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation initiation increase the workload in the initial 24 hours of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation care demands adjustments in the nurse-to-patient ratio in the intensive care unit.