The Registered Nurses Union is adding its voice to those concerned about a substantial increase coming to fees associated with a national nursing exam.

As of next February, the national registration fee to write the mandatory nursing exam will jump to $570 from $360.

That decision was approved by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Delegate Assembly.

RNU president Yvette Coffey acknowledges that this is the first time the fee has been increased since the year 2000, but she is calling on the council to reconsider the decision.

She says an increase is probably needed, but it doesn’t need to be such a big one. She says there are over 200 nursing vacancies in the province right now, and students have said their biggest impediment to their education is the cost so making such a big increase will keep people out of the field.

Coffey suggests that if an increase has to happen, it should be done incrementally.