SMQT Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield SMQT facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. During an entrance conference, what is the primary purpose of the surveyor's opening statement? → To explain the survey process and team composition to facility leadership
2. Which CMS document outlines the specific tasks surveyors must complete during a standard nursing home survey? → State Operations Manual (SOM)
3. When surveying medication reconciliation practices at a hospital, which patient transition is most associated with high-risk medication errors? → Admission from home to the hospital
4. A surveyor discovers that a facility failed to investigate and report an allegation of resident-to-resident abuse. The MOST appropriate action is to: → Cite deficiencies under abuse prohibition and reporting requirements
5. Under the Medicare Conditions of Participation for long-term care, how often must pharmacists conduct drug regimen reviews for residents? → At least monthly
6. Which of the following environmental conditions should an interviewer prioritize FIRST when setting up an in-person interview? → Ensuring the space provides visual and auditory privacy from all non-participants
7. What type of survey is performed to map underwater features such as river channels and harbor depths? → Both B and C, as these terms are interchangeable
8. An interviewer arrives at a household and finds the television on loudly in the interview room. What is the correct action? → Ask the respondent if it would be acceptable to turn off the television before beginning
9. Which of the following represents a violation of a resident's right to dignity under 42 CFR §483.10? → Staff referring to residents as 'feeders' or 'walkers' in clinical shorthand
10. When a PASRR Level II evaluation is required, which professional must conduct it? → A qualified mental health professional or intellectual disability specialist
11. What is the significance of the 'kitchen sink' approach in surveying, and why is it discouraged? → It means citing every minor issue observed, which dilutes focus on serious deficiencies
12. Federal regulations require that the interval between the evening meal and breakfast the next morning should not exceed: → 14 hours
13. What does the term 'colonization' mean in the context of infection prevention? → Presence of a microorganism without causing disease or symptoms
14. What is the purpose of 'balancing a traverse' using the Compass Rule (Bowditch)? → To distribute closure error proportionally to the length of each traverse course
15. Which surveying term describes the height of the instrument's line of sight above the datum? → Height of instrument (HI)
16. To investigate the infrastructure's availability and site circumstances. → reconnaissance survey
17. Which MDS item set is used when a resident returns from a hospital stay under a Medicare Part A benefit? → Return from Hospital tracking record
18. A resident's MDS indicates a BIMS score of 6. How should the surveyor interpret this finding? → Severely impaired cognition
19. What should an interviewer note in their case record when the physical environment during an interview was suboptimal? → Document the specific environmental conditions and any impact on the interview process
20. A resident requests that their care plan goal be changed from 'ambulate 50 feet daily' to 'remain in bed during evening hours.' The facility should: → Update the care plan to reflect the resident's preference and document any risks discussed
21. A facility fails to transmit MDS data to the CMS national repository within the required timeframe. Which consequence can a surveyor cite? → A deficiency citation under F-tag regulations governing assessments and care planning
22. What does 'EDM' stand for and what does it measure? → Electronic Distance Measurement — measures slope distances using electromagnetic waves
23. According to federal regulations at 42 CFR §483.90(d), a facility's resident call system must be accessible from which specific locations? → Each resident's bed and toilet.
24. Under CMS regulations, how long does a facility have to resolve a resident's grievance after it is submitted? → Within a reasonable time frame, not to exceed 15 calendar days
25. During a survey, a resident tells a surveyor that staff skip her scheduled bath twice a week. This information is BEST classified as: → Interview data to be corroborated with observation and records
26. A resident refuses a care plan goal. The facility's correct response is to: → Document the refusal and the risks explained, then respect the resident's right to refuse
27. Under federal regulations, how frequently must a nursing facility review and revise a resident's comprehensive care plan? → Every 90 days or after a significant change
28. Which regulatory tag is associated with nursing home residents' rights to be free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation? → F600
29. Which section of the MDS captures a resident's cognitive skills for daily decision-making? → Section C
30. What is the magnetic declination? → The angle between true north and magnetic north at a given location