Final answer:
The correct word to fill in the blank in the given sentence is 'responsive,' indicating that nursing staff should react appropriately to patients, making the sentence positive and complete.
Step-by-step explanation:
The proper answer to the sentence "The surveyors will observe whether nursing staff are and responsible." would be "responsive". Therefore, the complete sentence should read: "The surveyors will observe whether nursing staff are responsive and responsible." The word 'responsive' indicates that the nursing staff is quick to react appropriately to patient needs or inquiries, which is a desirable trait in the healthcare setting.
Other options such as absent, inattentive, or distracted would have negative connotations and do not fit the context as the sentence pairs the blank with "responsible", suggesting a positive attribute is needed.