I just got hired per diem at a substance abuse treatment facility as an FNP (2 yrs experience). A friend of mine is a psych NP who just graduated this past Summer, got hired at the same facility around the same time. She makes substantially more than me. I knew this going into my interview and negotiated, but was turned down, and told that "psych NPs always make more." I took the job anyway because I love it, but honestly (and please NO offense intended) don't get the salary discrepency.
I carry a load of 25 - 30 patients, she has 8-10. I prescribe everything from htn meds, insulin, suboxone, and she only prescribes the mental health meds. I do physical assessments, she does not.
Is this difference in pay typical? Again, without sounding like an ignorant buffoon... why?