Iowa revokes the license of fired nursing home worker over drug issues

State regulators have revoked the license of a nurse who allegedly confessed to a drug addiction after leaving a bag full of used needles at the nursing home where she worked.

According to the Iowa Board of Nursing, Ranae Fallis of West Des Moines was working at an unspecified nursing home on Dec. 18, 2025, when she left her personal cosmetic bag on a medication cart at the facility. When a colleague reached into the bag, she was stuck by a needle, and further inspection showed the bag contained multiple uncapped “used syringes with visible blood traces and bent needles,” the board alleges.

The board asserts that when questioned, Fallis indicated that although she was struggling with drug issues and had been using cocaine, she had not been using any drugs while on duty. Fallis was fired four weeks later, according to the board.

State records indicate Fallis told a board investigator she had been using drugs “on and off” since 2021, was addicted to cocaine, and that the cosmetic bag that had been found was hers. “Despite the bag being discovered on the medication cart, (Fallis) denied using drugs before or after a shift,” the Board of Nursing alleges.

In April, the board charged Fallis with habitual intoxication or addiction to a drug, and engaging in behavior contrary to professional decorum. After Fallis failed to appear for a board hearing on the matter, her license was revoked.

Board records show that on July 12, 2022, Fallis tested positive for cocaine use during a drug test administered by the hospital where she worked. As a result of that incident, the Board of Nursing placed Fallis’ license on probation for 18 months beginning in April 2023. During her probation, she was to have been enrolled in a board-approved chemical screening program.

Other Board of Nursing actions

Other Iowa nurses whose board-approved disciplinary charges were recently disclosed by the state include:

Patricia Young of Preston – The board has charged Preston with engaging in behavior contrary to professional decorum, but disclosed no information as to the date, location or circumstances surrounding the alleged conduct that gave rise to the charge.

The charge was approved by the board in January 2026, but was only recently made public by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Jan. 29, 2027.

Valerie J. Menter of Toledo – Board records indicate Menter is an Iowa-licensed practical nurse,” but that her license is currently “inactive.” Menter is charged by the board with failing to comply with a board order, but the board has not disclosed the substance of that order.

The charge was approved by the board in July 2026, but was only recently made public by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for April 15, 2027.

McKenna Rae Harshbarger, aka McKenna Smith, of Donnellson – The board has charged Harshbarger with failing to assess, accurately document, evaluate, or report the status of a patient; misappropriating or attempting to misappropriate medications or property of a patient or clinic, and failing to properly document or perform the disposal of medications. According to the board, Harshbarger was practicing in Macomb, Ill., during the period when the alleged misconduct occurred.

The charges were approved by the board in December 2025, but were only recently made public by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Jan. 29, 2027.

Pamela R. Hoffman of Hartford – The board has charged Hoffman with committing an act that might adversely affect a patient’s welfare and with engaging in behavior that is contradictory to professional decorum. According to the board, Hoffman was practicing in West Des Moines during the period when the alleged misconduct occurred.

The charges were approved by the board in January 2026, but were only recently made public by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Jan. 29, 2027.

Christy M. Weber of Jesup – The board has charged Weber with violating the confidentiality or privacy rights of a patient, failing to assess or accurately document the status of a patient, and engaging in behavior that is contradictory to professional decorum. According to the board, Weber was practicing in Independence during the period when the alleged misconduct occurred.

The charges were approved by the board in April 2026, but were only recently made public by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Jan. 28, 2027.

Melissa Wiederin, aka Melissa Heiman, of Redfield – The board has charged Wiederin with failing to assess or accurately document the status of a patient, misappropriating or attempting to misappropriate medications or supplies of a patient or clinic, failing to properly document or perform the disposal of medication, and failure to notify the board of a criminal conviction within 30 days.  According to the board, Wiederin was practicing in Granger during the period when the alleged misconduct occurred.

The charges were approved by the board in April 2026, but were only recently made public by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Jan. 28, 2027.

Court records indicate Wiederin was working for Signature Healthcare and Total Nurses Network in 2025, the same year she was convicted of drunken driving and a probation violation. She is currently facing a charge of assault causing bodily injury. A trial date has yet to be scheduled, although her attorney recently filed a notice of intent to argue self-defense in the case. When contacted by the Iowa Capital Dispatch, Wiederin’s attorney declined to comment on either the criminal case or the Board of Nursing proceedings.

Danielle A. Mangine of Sumner – The board has charged Mangine with committing an act that might adversely affect a patient’s welfare, failing to assess or accurately document the status of a patient, and engaging in behavior that is contradictory to professional decorum. According to the board, Mangine was practicing in Shell Rock during the period when the alleged misconduct occurred.

The charges were approved by the board in January 2026, but were only recently made public by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for April 15, 2027.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch was not able to reach any of the accused nurses for comment.