Final answer:
Nursing staff are more vulnerable to workplace violence due to the extensive contact they have with patients and visitors, along with factors like low job satisfaction and insufficient training. Understanding the dynamics of workplace interactions and the importance of procedural justice can aid in preventing such violence. Therefore, the correct option is a.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that best explains why nursing staff are more vulnerable to workplace violence than other healthcare professionals is that nursing staff have the most contact with patients and visitors. Direct interaction with patients and visitors can increase exposure to various stressors and the potential for conflict, especially in high-tension environments like healthcare settings. Factors such as low job satisfaction, treating the elderly like children, or feeling burnt out can increase the risk of caregivers becoming abusive. Training and procedural justice within the healthcare facility can be crucial in preventing workplace violence.
Caregivers with lower levels of training, education, and those suffering from depression or psychiatric disorders tend to be at higher risk of engaging in verbally abusive behavior. Furthermore, the importance of understanding employee target characteristics as well as workplace dynamics, as outlined in studies by Kohn and Verhoek-Oftedahl (2011) and Greenberg & Barling (1999), highlights the complex nature of workplace violence in the healthcare industry.