Nursing Viral Infections 2026 Practice
Test Questions Detailed Explanations
Viruses Transmission Routes Infection
Control Clinical Findings Diagnostic
Laboratory Testing
SECTION 1: VIRUSES AND VIRAL STRUCTURE (Questions 1-32)
1. A nurse is teaching about viral structure. Which component is the outer
protein coat of a virus?
A) Envelope
B) Capsid
C) Nucleoid
D) Capsule
Rationale: The capsid is the outer protein coat that protects the viral genetic
material (DNA or RNA). It is composed of subunits called capsomeres. Some
viruses also have an envelope derived from the host cell membrane. The capsid is
essential for viral attachment and entry into host cells.
2. A nurse is reviewing viral classification. Which statement about viruses is
correct?
A) Viruses are prokaryotic cells.
B) Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites.
C) Viruses contain both DNA and RNA simultaneously.
D) Viruses can replicate independently.
,Rationale: Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that require a host cell to
replicate. They lack metabolic machinery, ribosomes, and ATP-generating
systems. Most viruses contain either DNA or RNA, not both. They cannot replicate
independently outside a host cell.
3. A nurse is teaching about viral envelopes. Which statement is correct?
A) All viruses have an envelope.
B) Enveloped viruses are more susceptible to disinfectants.
C) Enveloped viruses are more resistant to drying.
D) Enveloped viruses lack glycoproteins.
Rationale: Enveloped viruses have a lipid bilayer derived from the host cell
membrane and are more susceptible to disinfectants (alcohol, detergents) because
the lipid envelope can be disrupted. Non-enveloped viruses are more resistant to
environmental conditions. Enveloped viruses have glycoprotein spikes for
attachment.
4. A nurse is reviewing viral replication. Which step involves the virus
attaching to the host cell?
A) Penetration
B) Adsorption
C) Uncoating
D) Release
Rationale: Adsorption (attachment) is the first step in viral replication, where the
virus binds to specific receptors on the host cell. This is followed by penetration,
uncoating, replication, assembly, and release. The specificity of attachment
determines host range and tissue tropism.
5. A nurse is teaching about viral nucleic acids. Which statement is correct?
,A) All viruses contain DNA.
B) Viruses can contain either DNA or RNA.
C) Viruses contain both DNA and RNA.
D) Viral nucleic acid is always double-stranded.
Rationale: Viruses can contain either DNA or RNA, but not both. The nucleic acid
can be single-stranded or double-stranded, linear or circular, and segmented or
non-segmented. This classification is important for diagnostic testing and antiviral
therapy.
6. A nurse is reviewing viral replication. Which step involves the virus
entering the host cell?
A) Adsorption
B) Penetration
C) Uncoating
D) Assembly
Rationale: Penetration is the step where the virus enters the host cell. This can
occur via endocytosis, fusion with the cell membrane (enveloped viruses), or
injection of nucleic acid (bacteriophages). After penetration, the viral nucleic acid
is released during uncoating.
7. A nurse is teaching about viral replication. Which step involves the release
of new viral particles?
A) Adsorption
B) Penetration
C) Assembly
D) Release
Rationale: Release is the final step in viral replication, where new viral particles
exit the host cell. This can occur via budding (enveloped viruses) or lysis (non-
enveloped viruses). Budding allows the virus to acquire its envelope from the host
cell membrane.
, 8. A nurse is reviewing viral classification. Which virus is an example of a
DNA virus?
A) Influenza virus
B) HIV
C) Herpes simplex virus
D) Hepatitis C virus
Rationale: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a DNA virus. Influenza, HIV, and
hepatitis C are RNA viruses. DNA viruses include herpesviruses, adenoviruses,
papillomaviruses, and poxviruses. RNA viruses include influenza, HIV, hepatitis
A, B, C, and E, and coronaviruses.
9. A nurse is teaching about viral replication. Which step involves the
synthesis of viral components?
A) Adsorption
B) Penetration
C) Replication
D) Assembly
Rationale: Replication is the step where the virus hijacks the host cell's machinery
to synthesize viral nucleic acids and proteins. This can occur in the nucleus or
cytoplasm, depending on the virus. After replication, viral components are
assembled into new virions.
10. A nurse is reviewing viral classification. Which virus is an example of an
RNA virus?
A) Herpes simplex virus
B) Influenza virus
C) Adenovirus
D) Papillomavirus
Test Questions Detailed Explanations
Viruses Transmission Routes Infection
Control Clinical Findings Diagnostic
Laboratory Testing
SECTION 1: VIRUSES AND VIRAL STRUCTURE (Questions 1-32)
1. A nurse is teaching about viral structure. Which component is the outer
protein coat of a virus?
A) Envelope
B) Capsid
C) Nucleoid
D) Capsule
Rationale: The capsid is the outer protein coat that protects the viral genetic
material (DNA or RNA). It is composed of subunits called capsomeres. Some
viruses also have an envelope derived from the host cell membrane. The capsid is
essential for viral attachment and entry into host cells.
2. A nurse is reviewing viral classification. Which statement about viruses is
correct?
A) Viruses are prokaryotic cells.
B) Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites.
C) Viruses contain both DNA and RNA simultaneously.
D) Viruses can replicate independently.
,Rationale: Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that require a host cell to
replicate. They lack metabolic machinery, ribosomes, and ATP-generating
systems. Most viruses contain either DNA or RNA, not both. They cannot replicate
independently outside a host cell.
3. A nurse is teaching about viral envelopes. Which statement is correct?
A) All viruses have an envelope.
B) Enveloped viruses are more susceptible to disinfectants.
C) Enveloped viruses are more resistant to drying.
D) Enveloped viruses lack glycoproteins.
Rationale: Enveloped viruses have a lipid bilayer derived from the host cell
membrane and are more susceptible to disinfectants (alcohol, detergents) because
the lipid envelope can be disrupted. Non-enveloped viruses are more resistant to
environmental conditions. Enveloped viruses have glycoprotein spikes for
attachment.
4. A nurse is reviewing viral replication. Which step involves the virus
attaching to the host cell?
A) Penetration
B) Adsorption
C) Uncoating
D) Release
Rationale: Adsorption (attachment) is the first step in viral replication, where the
virus binds to specific receptors on the host cell. This is followed by penetration,
uncoating, replication, assembly, and release. The specificity of attachment
determines host range and tissue tropism.
5. A nurse is teaching about viral nucleic acids. Which statement is correct?
,A) All viruses contain DNA.
B) Viruses can contain either DNA or RNA.
C) Viruses contain both DNA and RNA.
D) Viral nucleic acid is always double-stranded.
Rationale: Viruses can contain either DNA or RNA, but not both. The nucleic acid
can be single-stranded or double-stranded, linear or circular, and segmented or
non-segmented. This classification is important for diagnostic testing and antiviral
therapy.
6. A nurse is reviewing viral replication. Which step involves the virus
entering the host cell?
A) Adsorption
B) Penetration
C) Uncoating
D) Assembly
Rationale: Penetration is the step where the virus enters the host cell. This can
occur via endocytosis, fusion with the cell membrane (enveloped viruses), or
injection of nucleic acid (bacteriophages). After penetration, the viral nucleic acid
is released during uncoating.
7. A nurse is teaching about viral replication. Which step involves the release
of new viral particles?
A) Adsorption
B) Penetration
C) Assembly
D) Release
Rationale: Release is the final step in viral replication, where new viral particles
exit the host cell. This can occur via budding (enveloped viruses) or lysis (non-
enveloped viruses). Budding allows the virus to acquire its envelope from the host
cell membrane.
, 8. A nurse is reviewing viral classification. Which virus is an example of a
DNA virus?
A) Influenza virus
B) HIV
C) Herpes simplex virus
D) Hepatitis C virus
Rationale: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a DNA virus. Influenza, HIV, and
hepatitis C are RNA viruses. DNA viruses include herpesviruses, adenoviruses,
papillomaviruses, and poxviruses. RNA viruses include influenza, HIV, hepatitis
A, B, C, and E, and coronaviruses.
9. A nurse is teaching about viral replication. Which step involves the
synthesis of viral components?
A) Adsorption
B) Penetration
C) Replication
D) Assembly
Rationale: Replication is the step where the virus hijacks the host cell's machinery
to synthesize viral nucleic acids and proteins. This can occur in the nucleus or
cytoplasm, depending on the virus. After replication, viral components are
assembled into new virions.
10. A nurse is reviewing viral classification. Which virus is an example of an
RNA virus?
A) Herpes simplex virus
B) Influenza virus
C) Adenovirus
D) Papillomavirus
