An Iowa registered nurse who worked at the Newton Correctional Facility has had her nursing license suspended after state regulators concluded she failed to provide appropriate medical care to an inmate who later died.
The Iowa Board of Nursing suspended the license of Penny Lynn Daniels of Newton for 90 days as part of a disciplinary agreement stemming from an incident in September 2024.
According to the board, Daniels was notified by other medical staff that an inmate’s condition was getting worse and that he was experiencing fever, nausea, and vomiting. Regulators allege Daniels ordered electrolyte fluids but did not personally assess the inmate’s condition, instead determining he likely had a viral illness. The inmate died a few hours later. An investigation determined the cause of death was a perforated ulcer.
The disciplinary action, originally filed by the board in October 2025, alleged Daniels failed to properly assess the patient, did not accurately document the inmate’s condition, and engaged in conduct that could negatively affect a patient’s welfare.
Under the settlement agreement, Daniels’ nursing license will be suspended for three months. Once the suspension ends, her license will remain on probation for three years, during which her nursing practice will be monitored. She is also required to complete additional education in ethics and professional boundaries before returning to unrestricted practice.
Board records show Daniels received her Iowa registered nurse license in 2012. She previously worked at the Glenwood Resource Center before joining the Iowa Department of Corrections in 2018 as a registered nurse.
Attempts to obtain comment from Daniels were unsuccessful.
Source: Iowa Capital Dispatch and Iowa Board of Nursing disciplinary records.
