The diploma thesis addresses the issue of increasing the authorities of nurses of general practitioners in primary care. The theoretical part summarizes the information about primary and community care, defines authorities and professional activities of general nurses and physicians, and deals with the roles of nurses in primary care and the relations between general nurses and physicians. The objective of the diploma thesis was to survey the opinions of nurses of a possible increase in their professional powers, and to ascertain whether nurses are ready to assume certain authorities. It was also ascertained what physicians think of a possible transfer of certain authorities to nurses, and whether nurses are satisfied with their growing independence and responsibilities in connection with the increasing requirements for their profession. The results of the qualitative survey were evaluated by their summarizing in thematic areas and subareas; the text also contains authentic quotes of respondents (written in italics). The research set consisted of 15 respondents who were selected systematically. The set consisted of six physicians (general practitioners specialized in adult or paediatric medicine and general dentists). The set of general nurses consisted of nine nurses working for general practitioners. The selected general nurses had the work experience of various duration and various educational backgrounds ? they had either secondary or higher professional education and one nurse had university education. It has clearly followed from the research that the nurses do not wish to assume any activities falling within the authorities of physicians. A large number of respondents are very busy and any other authorities would be beyond bearable. Physicians would not transfer many medical activities to the nurses; they would rather transfer most of paperwork to them, such as writing opinions in respect of traffic accidents, spa treatment requests and other requests. Nurses are not afraid of increased authorities but agree that the authorities will mostly result in greater responsibilities and paperwork. The nurses think that there are clear boundaries between the authorities of nurses and physicians. Clear boundaries are seen mostly in diagnostic and therapeutic activities, nursing treatments, prescription of medicines, application of intravenous injections, and statement of diagnosis. Above the scope of their authorities, general nurses are charged to perform activities of a mostly administrative nature, write requests and sick certificates, administer intravenous medicines without expert supervision, write various recommendations, and monitor warfarinisation of patients.