Exam by body system

How to do a rectal exam

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

MD / DOPA
Practice it in VR with Blocky

A rectal exam takes a minute when explained well and done gently.

Step by step

  1. Consent and chaperone

    Explain why and what it feels like. [1]

  2. Position

    Left side, knees to chest. [2]

  3. Inspect

    Skin, hemorrhoids, fissures, skin tags. [2]

  4. Insert

    Gloved lubricated finger, ask the patient to bear down. [2]

  5. Feel

    Wall all around, tone (squeeze), masses; prostate size and texture in men. [2]

  6. Check the glove

    Stool color, blood. [2]

  7. Finish

    Wipe, cover, explain the findings. [1]

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

7 VMS cases train this skill: open the case library

Sources

  1. AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)
  2. Stanford Medicine 25 (bedside exam)
  3. NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint
  4. Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College) (CC BY 4.0)

Steps adapted from Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Facts and steps also follow NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint; Stanford Medicine 25 (bedside exam). VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.