A western Iowa mental health professional was fired from a hospital last year after being accused of twice showing up for work drunk.
State records indicate Cally Evans, 38, was working last year as a hospital’s mental health technician and was employed by Alegent Health Bergan Mercy Health System, which has operated hospitals in both Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska.
According to state records, Evans was working in an Alegent hospital on Nov. 11, 2025, when a shift supervisor detected the smell of alcohol on her breath and observed she had a flushed face, bloodshot eyes, and had difficulty standing upright. She was taken to the emergency room of the hospital where she allegedly admitted she was under the influence of alcohol and was given a written warning.
Two weeks later, on Nov. 27, 2025, several of Evans’ coworkers allegedly noticed her acting in unusual manner — speaking slowly, slurring her speech, and running into doorways and into a printer. Evans also fell asleep at the nurses’ station, the hospital later alleged.
Evans’ supervisors advised her she needed to submit to a suspicion-based drug and alcohol test. A certified toxicology technician then administered two separate breathalyzer tests, spaced 15 minutes apart. The hospital alleged the first test produced a result showing a blood-alcohol level of 0.198, more than double the legal limit for driving, while the second test showed a level of 0.193.
Evans was fired on Dec. 1, 2025, after which she applied for unemployment benefits. Initially, she was deemed eligible and collected $4,168 in benefits.
Alegent appealed that decision, and recently Administrative Law Judge Stephanie Adkisson ruled Evans was fired for disqualifying workplace misconduct and was not entitled to collect unemployment benefits.
