Patient interview

How to interview a patient with excessive thirst and urination

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

Thirst and frequent urination together suggest high blood sugar. Check the glucose and look for ketoacidosis.

Step by step

  1. Check glucose

    Bedside glucose early. [1]

  2. Introduce yourself and get consent

    Ask about the timeline. [2]

  3. Symptoms

    How much they drink and pee, night urination, since when. [3]

  4. Weight and energy

    Weight loss and fatigue suggest high sugar. [4]

  5. Ketoacidosis signs

    Vomiting, belly pain, fast breathing, fruity breath, confusion: urgent. [4]

  6. Other causes

    Lithium, diuretics, high calcium, pregnancy. [4]

  7. Summarize and plan

    Explain tests and treatment. [2]

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

20 VMS cases train this skill: open the case library

Sources

  1. Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College) (CC BY 4.0)
  2. AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)
  3. NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations
  4. 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.