Final answer:
Substance abuse in nurses contributes to higher healthcare costs due to treatment and legal costs, increased insurance premiums, and negative impacts on patient care leading to potential lawsuits. It also causes higher turnover rates with associated hiring and training expenses and can affect patient access to healthcare due to reduced workforce availability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between substance abuse in nurses and aspects of finance within healthcare systems is multifaceted and complex. Substance abuse among nursing staff can lead to increased costs for healthcare providers in various ways. These costs may arise from the need for medical treatment for the affected nurses, potential legal ramifications, increased insurance premiums, and not least, the impact on patient care. Poor patient outcomes due to impaired practice can result in additional healthcare costs, lawsuits, and damage to the institution's reputation.
Moreover, substance abuse can lead to higher turnover rates among nurses, which impacts the healthcare system financially due to the costs associated with hiring and training new staff. Lastly, substance abuse can affect access to healthcare by reducing the available workforce when nurses are unable to work, thus potentially increasing wait times for patients and putting additional strain on remaining staff.