Patient interview

How to interview a patient with a cough

Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.

MD / DOPANursing (NCLEX)
Practice it in VR with Blocky

How long the cough has lasted sorts most causes: acute (under 3 weeks) is usually an infection, chronic (over 8 weeks) needs a wider search.

Step by step

  1. Introduce yourself and protect others

    Offer the patient a mask, clean your hands and get consent. [1]

  2. Duration

    Under 3 weeks, 3 to 8 weeks, or more than 8 weeks. [2]

  3. Type of cough

    Dry or with sputum; sputum color and amount; blood (how much); worse at night or lying down. [2]

  4. Associated symptoms

    Fever, shortness of breath, wheeze, chest pain, runny nose or postnasal drip, heartburn, weight loss and night sweats. [3]

  5. Exposures

    Smoking or vaping in pack-years, work dust and chemicals, pets, tuberculosis contacts, prison or shelter stays, and travel. [3]

  6. Medications

    ACE inhibitors (for example lisinopril) can cause a dry cough weeks or months after starting. [3]

  7. Red flags

    Coughing blood, weight loss, night sweats, a smoker over 40 with a change in cough, and shortness of breath at rest. [3]

  8. Summarize and plan

    Name the likely cause and the next steps (exam, chest X-ray if needed). [4]

Common errors

Practice it in VMS

In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.

VMS cases that train this skill

43 VMS cases train this skill: open the case library

Sources

  1. CDC, Guideline for Isolation Precautions (2007) and PPE sequence
  2. NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations
  3. NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint
  4. AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)

Facts and steps follow NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations; NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint. VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.