An understanding of the ethos of a profession is an essential prerequisite for the effective development, control and practice of that profession. The ethos of nursing is therefore a compulsory subject for all nurses in South Africa studying for qualifications leading to registration as a nurse or midwife. In this edition of this popular nursing textbook for basic nursing training contemporary issues of importance in the new millennium are addressed, such human rights, women's rights, trade union implications, transcultural nursing, privatisation and global nursing requirements and recommendations.