Pinky finger issue

[SaderNurse05]

Does anyone know the appropriate name for the pinky finger? I had a patient today that I treated for an injury, and when I was charting I realized that "left pinky finger" was a bit lacking:uhoh3:... BTW any good basic Anatomy refences would be appreciated as well.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

And the finger isn't "a phalanx," the 5th digit contains THREE phalanges, a proximal, middle and distal phalanx....

Oh! That's true. Composed of phalanges, but not in itself a phalanx. Good call!

[kcalohagirl]

LOL. It's been awhile since anatomy. For practical use, 5th finger works for me!!!!:chuckle

[ebear, BSN, RN]

Phalynx works

I agree "finger" always works

[amberfnp]

How about "small finger"?

[RNperdiem, RN]

Little finger or pinkey finger would be fine with me. One of our per diem nurses teaches, and she had to stop a student from charting "butt crack" in the notes. This is where the internet can help you find the term you need.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

5th digit.

[scattycarrot, BSN, RN]

I have always been taught never to use fingers 1-5, as it leads to confusion and so, document the fingers with their 'names', eg.. index, middle, ring, small or little and then there is no confusion.

[bigsyis]

The left 5th finger at the PIP, MIP, or DIP, OR lateral left 5th finger, dorsal left 5th finger, medial left 5th finger, palmar aspect of left 5th finger.

[jojotoo, RN]

Little finger or pinkey finger would be fine with me. One of our per diem nurses teaches, and she had to stop a student from charting "butt crack" in the notes. This is where the internet can help you find the term you need.

Too funny, too true.

[woody62, RN]

And I thought this was all about making a pinky promise, as my granddaughter always makes me promise.

Woody:balloons:

[judyblueeyes]

I recall their names as hallux (or was that pallux...one is the thumb, the other the toe), indices, impudens, annulus and minimus.

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

we call it the 5th finger. when we want an xray we order left or right hand and count the fingers as numbers with the thumb being number 1 and the little finger being number 5. I fiqure that if that is how our xray dept refers to them, it is good enough for me.