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presentation. This means that even though the remote nurse may perceive a personal lack of knowledge, in fact they have an enormous network of assistance in providing mental healthcare in the instance. When remote nurses’ actions are undertaken with reference to policies and procedures, their practices become ordered, uniform and repetitive given similar circumstances. Even the most basic of tasks involves a network of multiple human actors. When the remote nurse dispenses a medication tablet to a mental health patient, they are at one level of analysis operating as an individual in the health actors’ arena. The remote nurse makes the assessment and makes a series of actions pursuant to a system designed to achieve the goal. On another level of analysis, there are multiple human actors in a network of involvement that have input into the system (of administering medications correctly) to achieve the goal (of administering the medication). Table 8.2 outlines the various human actors. Table 8.2 Table of Actors Who Have Input into the ‘System’

Human Actors Mental health patient

Involvement in the System Recipient of the medication

Psychiatrist/MO Writes up/authorises prescribing of the medication Administrators

Created the safety manuals, polices/procedures, medication charts Various personnel who pack and transport the medication to the remote location; other various personnel who order and purchase the medications from the suppliers AHPRA, who regulate the conduct of the registered nurses in dispensing medications (create relevant standards and codes); Legislators who empower remote nurses dispensing the medication through legislation

Facilitators

Others