Patient interview

How to interview a patient with fatigue

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

Fatigue is common and has many causes. A structured interview narrows them down and finds the few that are serious.

Step by step

  1. Introduce yourself and get consent

    Let the patient describe it in their own words. [1]

  2. What does tired mean?

    Sleepy, weak muscles, out of breath, or no energy and motivation. [2]

  3. Onset and pattern

    Since when, after an illness or event, worse in the morning or evening. [2]

  4. Sleep

    Hours, snoring, stopping breathing at night, shift work. [3]

  5. Mood

    Low mood, loss of interest, stress, anxiety. [3]

  6. Body symptoms

    Weight change, fever, night sweats, heavy periods or blood in stool (anemia), cold intolerance (thyroid), thirst (diabetes). [3]

  7. Medicines and habits

    Sedatives, antihistamines, beta-blockers, alcohol, caffeine. [3]

  8. Summarize and plan

    Explain the next step, often basic blood tests. [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

42 VMS cases train this skill: open the case library

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.