Nurse fired for meth use but is rehired.

The Iowa Dispatch reported another drug diversion by a nursing home nurse.  After 20 years of work at the Iowan nursing home, Friendship Haven, in July 2024, nurse Lacy Dencklau tested positive for methamphetamine.  Seven months earlier in December 2023, the nursing home’s own Human Resources director reported that nurse Dencklau had “‘not been acting right.’”

After investigating the situation further, it was found that medication that was supposed to be administered to residents was left untouched and the nurse was also found to have failed to report a resident’s fall. Dencklau was then sent home and given the week off without much further investigation into her personal state.

A week later, upon her return to Friendship Haven, Dencklau stated that she “‘did not remember that day at work,’” and was given a drug test which she passed. A few weeks after, the nurse arrived late for work, and, “was posting ‘erratic social media posts ’ and texting random photos to colleagues.”

The nurse was then administered another drug test to which she tested positive for methamphetamine.

Although the deranged nurse suggested someone was seen putting “something in [her] soft drink” some days prior at the bar, she was ultimately fired. Despite her recorded drug use and consistent endangerment of nursing home residents, Dencklau was hired as a nurse at Rotary Senior Living shortly after her termination. It is unlikely that the residents at this new nursing facility are aware of the nurse’s history of illegal and dangerous behavior.

A few months after Friendship Haven, the Iowa Board of Nursing charged Dencklau with unethical conduct (a practice harmful to the public.) About a year later, the board settled the case by allowing her to keep her nursing license but placing her on probation for one year. During this time period, she must undergo drug screenings and follow a treatment plan. Nurse Dencklau is expected to continue working at the new nursing home with no reported further consequences or protections for residents at Rotary Senior Living.