NORTH LIBERTY, IOWA — A registered nurse whose license has been suspended by the Iowa Board of Nursing is scheduled to face a jury trial on March 30 on charges including unlawful possession of prescription drugs and dependent adult abuse stemming from allegations at multiple nursing facilities across Iowa.
Rachel Ann Flowers, 43, of North Liberty, has pleaded not guilty to serious misdemeanor charges filed in October 2025 related to her employment at Silver Oak Nursing and Rehabilitation in Marion, according to court records. The charges follow a previous theft conviction at another Iowa nursing facility in 2025.
Criminal Investigation and Charges
According to court documents, investigators with the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted an investigation into allegations at Silver Oak Nursing and Rehabilitation. The investigation revealed that while working as a nurse and caretaker for a dependent adult resident in Marion, Flowers allegedly took prescription medication from the patient, as reported by KCII Radio.
The Iowa Capital Dispatch reported that the investigation involved a 52-year-old dependent male resident who told investigators he believed he was in a relationship with Flowers. According to the allegations, Flowers signed out 12 Viagra pills for the resident, though he reported receiving only three tablets. A subsequent drug audit at the facility found 33 Viagra pills missing, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch.
The Gazette in Cedar Rapids reported additional allegations from the Silver Oak investigation, in which staff members noted the dependent resident appeared to believe he was in a relationship with Flowers. The resident alleged to investigators that they kissed multiple times and that she allowed inappropriate physical contact, according to The Gazette.
Additional Facilities Investigated
After leaving Silver Oak, Flowers was investigated at a third, unspecified care facility in March 2025 for missing narcotics, according to CBS2 Iowa. During that investigation, authorities reported discovering that Flowers had in her possession stock medications and other supplies taken from a care facility, as well as prescription medications belonging to the Silver Oak resident, according to court documents cited by KCII Radio.
Prior Theft Conviction
Before the October 2025 charges were filed, Flowers had pleaded guilty to fifth-degree theft charges related to incidents at Parkview Manor nursing home in Wellman, according to court records. The Washington County Sheriff's Office responded in April 2025 to a report from the director of nursing at Parkview Manor that Flowers had taken property belonging to the facility, as reported by KCII Radio.
According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, Parkview Manor administrator Kaylee Martin reported that items valued at $653.66 were found in Flowers' backpack, including a Lidocaine patch, suture kits, a syringe, and medications. At the time of the April 2025 incident, Flowers was serving as assistant director of nursing at Parkview Manor, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Flowers received a deferred judgment with one year of unsupervised probation in September 2025 for the theft conviction, as reported by the Iowa Capital Dispatch. The new charges were filed approximately four weeks after that sentencing, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Previous Professional Boundaries Case
The Gazette reported that Iowa Board of Nursing records show a 2022 case in which Flowers was found to have had a personal relationship with a resident at an unspecified facility between August 2019 and August 2021. According to The Gazette, Flowers settled that case by attending a three-day virtual class on professional boundaries.
License Suspension
The Iowa Board of Nursing has changed Flowers' license status to "suspended" while the criminal case proceeds through the courts, according to KCII Radio. Flowers has entered a not guilty plea to the October 2025 charges, and the jury trial is scheduled for March 30, 2026, in Linn County, according to court records.
Federal regulations require nursing facilities to conduct thorough background checks and maintain vigilant oversight of staff members who have access to controlled substances. Facilities must implement systems to track and monitor medication distribution to prevent diversion and protect vulnerable residents.
Resources for Families
Families concerned about the quality of care or safety at nursing facilities have several reporting options. The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center provides advocacy services for nursing home residents and can be reached at 1-800-677-1116. Additional information is available at ltcombudsman.org.
Suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of nursing home residents can be reported to state authorities through local law enforcement or state adult protective services agencies. Iowa residents can contact the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing to file complaints regarding licensed healthcare facilities.
💬 Join the Discussion
Comments are moderated. Please keep discussions respectful and relevant to nursing home care quality.