“Used parts”: The rational approach to understanding organizational systems and structures

The US health care system has been rapidly and constantly changing for the last 25 years. Nurses practicing in any health care setting must embrace change and be knowledgeable about organizational structures and systems. The emphasis in health care has been, and continues to be, on a shift from nonprofit to for-profit status. Whether not-for-profit or for-profit, distinct goals and maximum efficiency are necessary for the success of any organization. This article includes a sociological perspective of organization systems and compares one organization structure to another using a specific system called the “rational system of organizations.” This perspective provides an analysis of how organizations are structured to meet specific goals with maximum efficiency.