“There is a decline in skills in the nursing domain, and the only way to overcome this limitation is to improve hands-on-training methods,” S. Ani Grace Kalaimathi, Registrar, Tamil Nadu Nurses and Midwives’ Council, Chennai, said here on Thursday.

To give an impetus to hands-on-training, she called for setting up simulation laboratories in Coimbatore. “Coimbatore is considered to be a medical hub next to Chennai. It would be of great benefit to the medical fraternity if labs are set up here,” the Registrar said while addressing nursing students at a conference on ‘Excellence in Emerging Paediatric Trends’ at PPG College of Nursing.

With constant advancements in technology, it was essential that nursing students and nurses be up-to-date in their area of work, Ms. Ani Grace pointed, and added that there was a need for them to continue learning and specializing in different fields, besides the conventional nursing education.

Talking about paediatric trends, Ms. Ani Grace pointed out that paediatrics was a field that required a holistic approach as children were involved. “It is not like treating miniatures, it is a more demanding field than others, and it is essential that nurses in this area of specialisation be well equipped,” she said.

She pointed out that autism, obesity and hyperthyroidism were areas that required well-equipped nurses. The Council was planning to implement school health nursing module in the State, which was common in places like Qatar.

As many as 200 students and nurses participated in the sessions that covered topics such as paediatric population, neglecting children, comprehensive view of paediatric dermatology and primordial prevention.