Negotiated Order and the Clinical Pharmacist: The Ongoing Process of Structure

Abstract

Negotiated order theory was initiated about twenty‐five years ago within the interactionist perspective as an alternative to the dominant perspective of organizational behavior as structurally determined. Since that time, the theoretical framework has proven itself to be a viable means of understanding individual relationships within their larger contexts, for understanding the relationship between process and structure. This theoretical perspective is particularly appropriate for analyzing the attempts of hospital pharmacists to negotiate an expanded, more “clinical” role for themselves on the medical team. This article presents data gathered through extensive participant observation of pharmacists in two hospital settings as it applies to negotiated order theory.