In recent news, the Iowa Board of Nursing has sanctioned several nurses for engaging in unprofessional conduct. The board has investigated cases of nurses being under the influence of alcohol, sleeping on the job, cocaine use and assault on a patient.
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Lacey Friis Surrenders Nursing License
The Iowa Board of Nursing received a disciplinary case involving Lacey Friis. He is a 39-year-old nurse from Sioux City who has agreed to surrender her license to practice nursing. Friis had been working at an undisclosed hospital from June 2015 until June 2022 when her employment was terminated.
According to the board, Friis was seen using profanity and behaving unusually at work on June 7, 2022. She allegedly showed signs of being unable to focus and appeared to be falling asleep on the job. Two weeks later, on the morning of June 23, Friis allegedly purchased and consumed alcohol during her shift, before being sent home by management and again after work.
The board charged Friis with excessive use of alcohol in a manner that could impair a nurse’s ability to practice the profession with reasonable skill and safety. Friis agreed to surrender her license. Court records show that she has had previous legal troubles, including convictions for drunken driving and theft. Despite this, in 2018, Friis received the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses.
Danny Trent Mendez-Patterson Convicted of Assault
Danny Trent Mendez-Patterson is another nurse who faced disciplinary action. This is for an offense directly related to his duties and responsibilities as a nurse. Mendez-Patterson, 42, worked at the Parkridge Specialty Care nursing home in Pleasant Hill, where he assaulted a resident of the facility in December 2021.
After being charged with assault causing injury, Mendez-Patterson pleaded guilty and sentenced to one year of probation in March 2022.
According to police, witnesses saw him push, slap, and hit the 77-year-old woman, causing bruising around her right eye. The woman suffered an anxiety attack and was briefly hospitalized, according to court records.
Nurse Shows Up to Work Drunk
Donna Kemker, a travel nurse from Georgia, faced disciplinary action after showing up to work at a hospital in May 2022 while under the influence of alcohol.
Kemker arrived at the hospital showing signs of drowsiness, slurred speech, and an unsteady gait. After evaluation, her tests showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.265, more than three times the legal limit for driving.
The board alleged that Kemker admitted to consuming a large amount of alcohol before reporting for work and feeling its effects. As a result, Kemker agreed to relinquish her right to practice nursing in Iowa.
Sleeping on the Job
Valerie Barfield is another nurse who faced disciplinary action after being caught sleeping on the job and failing to administer medications to patients.
Barfield worked at an undisclosed care facility through an Iowa staffing agency. While on duty, she repeatedly slept and was seen by co-workers sitting in a recliner for extended periods.
According to the board, care-facility records indicated Barfield claimed to have administered multiple medications to residents throughout her shift. However, video footage suggested that the residents never received their medication.
The video footage allegedly showed Barfield procuring multiple pills for residents without ever administering the drugs. She later tested positive for cocaine.
The Iowa Board of Nursing takes allegations of unprofessional conduct seriously and investigates them thoroughly to ensure patient safety and quality care. Similarly, nurses must be held to a high standard of ethical and professional behavior to maintain patients’ trust and safety.
Preventing Unprofessional Conduct among Nurses
Healthcare facilities already implement several measures to prevent unprofessional conduct among nurses, including:
- Providing training and education to nurses on ethical and professional behavior.
- Conducting background checks on nurses to identify any previous legal or disciplinary issues that may impact their ability to provide quality care.
- Establishing clear policies and guidelines for nurses’ behavior at work. This includes the use of alcohol and drugs, sleeping on the job, and treating patients with respect and dignity.
While healthcare facilities already have measures in place to prevent unprofessional conduct among nurses, additional steps can be taken to improve patient safety and promote ethical behavior.
One such step is to cultivate a culture where nurses feel comfortable reporting unusual behavior in their colleagues. This can be achieved through education and training on how to identify signs of unprofessional conduct.
Additionally, healthcare facilities can work to create a supportive work environment. Furthermore, this is essential to reduce burnout and minimize the risk of substance abuse. By implementing these measures, this is an added layer that their nurses provide quality care while maintaining professional and ethical standards.
Despite the recent disciplinary cases of unprofessional conduct among nurses in Iowa, nurses continue to be one of the most trusted professions according to a survey.