How to interview a patient with painful urination
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.
Burning on urination is usually a bladder infection, but sexually transmitted infections and kidney infections must be considered.
Step by step
Introduce yourself and get consent
Ask permission to ask personal questions. [1]
Urinary symptoms
Burning, frequency, urgency, blood, smell, onset. [2]
Kidney involvement
Fever, chills, flank pain, vomiting suggest a kidney infection. [3]
Discharge and sexual history
Vaginal or penile discharge, new partners, condom use. [3]
Pregnancy
Last period and chance of pregnancy; infection in pregnancy is always treated. [3]
Risk factors
Diabetes, catheter, recent procedures, past infections, men (always more complex). [3]
Summarize and plan
Explain the urine test and treatment. [1]
Common errors
- Not asking about discharge and partners.
- Missing flank pain and fever.
- Not asking about pregnancy.
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
- AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)
- NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations
- 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.