ankles are purple... how to doc?

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I know this might seem like a dumb question, but we're just learning how to document findings. My resident has edematous, dry, and very purple ankles. How do I document that (the color)? I asked my instructor and his answer was "how ever you think is correct". I don't KNOW what is correct nor do I have any clue, since I have no medical background whatsoever. I know what NOT to put (cyanotic, pink, etc). I'm stuck on the purple thing - do I just chart as "purple"??

Thanks to anyone for suggestions. :)

I have seen the term violaceous in ortho notes to describe a purple color of the skin. Don't know if this is the word that you are looking for...

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

i grant daytonite 10 cool points for the use of the word 'picayune'.

what a great, underused word.

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Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.
Chart exactly what you see. Cyanotic is blue. Pink is pink. Purple is purple. Or you can say purplish.

I could not agree more. Always chart exactly what you see. Never worry that someone else wrote something different, changes in condition happen so always chart what you have seen, in your own words. If it changes later, then document that.

Daytonite, I loved the thesaurus list.:chuckle

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