State suspends license of Davenport nurse who admitted stealing patient medications

At the time, the board said only that Thronson was “seeking out and applying for nursing jobs in the state of Iowa and poses an immediate danger to the public,” and it charged Thronson with falsification of records related to nursing, misappropriating medications or supplies, habitual intoxication or addiction to the use of drugs in a manner that might impair his ability to practice nursing, and failing to properly document or perform the disposal of medications.

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On June 12, 2026, Thronson appeared before an administrative law judge for a closed-door hearing on the matter.

According to the judge’s findings of fact, which stem from evidence presented at that hearing, Thronson worked as a nurse in Texas for five years, although his employment there was intermittent due to his use of methamphetamine. After becoming homeless, he moved to Iowa and from August 2025 through April 2026 he worked at Spring Park Surgery Center in Davenport.

On April 7, 2026, a Spring Park employee spotted a discrepancy in the medication count, with unspecified amounts of fentanyl, Dilaudid and Demerol unaccounted for. According to the judge’s findings, an investigation by Spring Park indicated Thronson had completed 23 entries in the medication-administration records using fake patient names.

He was also alleged to have completed one entry using a real patient’s name to sign out fentanyl, despite the lack of a physician’s order for the narcotic. In addition, the investigation was also alleged to have shown that witnesses’ signatures, indicating others had watched Thronson dispose of unused medications, were mere scribbles that didn’t correspond to actual employee names.

At the hearing, a Spring Park administrator allegedly stated that when questioned Thronson admitted stealing patient medications for his own use and admitted falsifying records.

Court records show Thronson was criminally charged with three counts of prohibited acts involving a controlled substance and three counts of tampering with records. That case is still pending, although Thronson recently pleaded guilty to all six charges, with the state agreeing to recommend a six-year suspended prison sentence.

Board records indicate that at his disciplinary hearing Thronson acknowledged his substance abuse issues and indicated he was enrolled in inpatient treatment. He also indicated he wanted to continue practicing nursing, according to the judge’s findings.

Citing what she called Thronson’s “lack of disciplinary history,” as well as his “previously imposed discipline for similarly situated offenses,” Administrative Law Judge Kristine Dreckman recently issued an order suspending Thronson’s license. After one year, she ruled, Thronson can apply for reinstatement, but will not be reinstated until he has established that such action is in the public interest.

Prior to submitting an application for reinstatement, Thronson must also complete a comprehensive substance abuse and mental health evaluation and show evidence of 12 continuous months of sobriety, the order states.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch was not able to reach Thronson for comment.

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