Patient interview

How to take a prenatal history

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

The first prenatal history sets the due date and finds the risks for this pregnancy.

Step by step

  1. Introduce yourself and get consent

    Ask if they want a partner present. [1]

  2. Dates

    First day of the last period, cycle regularity, early ultrasound; estimated due date. [2]

  3. Obstetric history

    Gravida (pregnancies) and para (births), past miscarriages, cesareans, complications. [2]

  4. Current symptoms

    Bleeding, pain, nausea, fetal movements. [2]

  5. Medical history

    High blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid, epilepsy, clots, mental health. [3]

  6. Medicines and habits

    All medicines, folic acid, smoking, alcohol, drugs. [3]

  7. Social and safety

    Support, housing, work, intimate partner violence. [3]

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

30 VMS cases train this skill: open the case library

Sources

  1. AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)
  2. OpenStax, Clinical Nursing Skills (CC BY 4.0)
  3. NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint
  4. NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations

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.