The perception of the nursing profession plays a key role in the formation of public opinion about its members. The historical beginnings of the development of nursing date back many centuries, and in the context of Croatian history, nursing has gone through various changes and reforms, proving its vitality and adaptability. In the modern age, there is a continuous dilemma related to the title and profile of the nurse, since it is traditionally associated with the female role and caring for others, which is a challenge for male members of the profession. However, the role of the nurse is expanding to encompass a wide range of specializations and responsibilities, and the relationship between the nurse and physician is extremely important for teamwork where each specialist contributes their specific knowledge and skills. Also, the relationship between the nurse and the patient is a key interaction that affects the quality of care. The autonomy, identity and integrity of the nursing profession are key components of its professional evolution; from patient care based on traditional values to health care based on scientific evidence. The aim of this research was to assess the understanding of the scope of work of nurses/technicians and their perception as health professionals. We also wanted to examine whether the name "nurse" affects the identity, integrity and autonomy of the nursing profession, and whether there are statistically significant differences in opinion about the scope of work and the level of education of nurses/technicians between the general population and patients. The research was conducted on a sample of 624 respondents, divided into two groups; general population (n=318) and patients (n=306) during February and March 2023. The questionnaire was available in physical form for patients and in online form for the general population via Google Forms. The results of the research showed that less than half of the respondents (49%) associate the term "nurse" with the concept of a professional working in their field of work, which points to an insufficient perception of nursing as an independent profession. Only 14% of respondents consider nursing as an independent profession, while the majority do not see the name as an influencing factor on the perception of nursing as a female profession. However, the respondents showed a high level of familiarity with the scope of work of nurses/technicians, and a statistically significant difference in opinion between the general population and patients was observed in 11 out of 17 examined variables related to the scope of work and level of education. The research revealed an insufficient perception of nursing as an independent profession and the need for further educating the public about the role of nurses/technicians in the health system.