Hoping you can tell me, is bruised ankle the same as a sprained ankle?

No: A bruise can be part of a sprain.

Not exactly: A sprain occurs when the ligaments that hold bones together in a joint are partially or completely torn. This usually occurs when the joint is forcibly bent beyond its normal range of motion. A bruise often occurs with a sprain as small blood vessels are broken and blood leaks out into the tissues. It may take several days for the blood to work its way up to the surface to be visible as a bruise.