Patient interview

How to interview a patient with constipation

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

Constipation means different things to different patients. Start with what is normal for them, then look for red flags.

Step by step

  1. Introduce yourself and get consent

    Ask permission to talk about bowel habits. [1]

  2. Normal for them

    How often they usually go, and what has changed. [2]

  3. Details

    Hard stools, straining, feeling of not emptying, last bowel movement, passing gas. [2]

  4. Red flags

    Blood in the stool, weight loss, new change after 50, vomiting with no gas (obstruction), family history of colon cancer. [3]

  5. Diet and activity

    Fiber, fluids, mobility, bed rest. [3]

  6. Medicines

    Opioids, iron, calcium channel blockers, anticholinergics, antacids with aluminum or calcium. [3]

  7. Summarize and plan

    Explain the next step and simple measures. [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

Sources

  1. AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)
  2. NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations
  3. NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint

Facts and steps follow NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations; NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint; AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs). VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.