Malissa Mulkey is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biobehavioral Health, College of Nursing at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Mulkey is an internationally recognized nurse scientist and leader advancing delirium detection, critical care innovation, and global nursing standards. Their pioneering work in EEG and machine learning earned a patent, supported Ceribell’s FDA indication for delirium detection, and spurred sustainable device redesign. Her contributions include my work to fill the scientific gap regarding early objective detection of and predicting delirium and increasing clinicians, political leaders, and the global community about delirium prevention and interventions. Through mobility protocols for brain-injured patients, Dr. Mulkey has demonstrated significant cost savings and improved recovery outcomes worldwide. Dr. Mulkey’s nurse-driven mobility protocol for acute brain injury patients has demonstrated a 38% reduction in care costs and increased rates of home discharge, improving both clinical and psychological recovery. As a leader in developing AACN and AANN scope and performance standards, Dr. Mulkey has set rigorous benchmarks impacting over 200,000 nurses worldwide, advancing consistent, high-quality care. Dr. Mulkey holds a PhD in Nursing and a Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing Education from East Carolina University and a Masters in Nursing as a Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist from the Univesity of Kentucky.