https://www.sciencescholar.us/journal/index.php/ijls <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>IJLS</strong> is published in English and it is open to authors around the world regardless of the nationality. It is currently published three times a year, i.e. in <em>April</em>, <em>August</em>, and <em>December</em>.<br />p-ISSN: 2550-6994</p> Universidad Tecnica de Manabi en-US International journal of life sciences 2550-6994 <p>Articles published in the <em>International Journal of Life Sciences&nbsp;</em>(<strong>IJLS</strong>)&nbsp;are available under Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives Licence (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CC BY-NC-ND 4.0</a>). Authors retain copyright in their work and grant <strong>IJLS&nbsp;</strong>right of first publication under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Users have the right to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles in this journal, and to use them for any other lawful purpose.</p> <p>Articles published in <strong>IJLS&nbsp;</strong>can be copied, communicated and shared in their published form for non-commercial purposes provided full attribution is given to the author and the journal. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (<em>e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book</em>), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.</p> <p>This copyright notice applies to articles published in <strong>IJLS&nbsp;</strong>volumes 4 onwards. Please read about the copyright notices for previous volumes under&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencescholar.us/journal/index.php/ijls/history">Journal History</a>.</p> https://www.sciencescholar.us/journal/index.php/ijls/article/view/15933 <p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Stress is a global phenomenon that significantly affects the academic performance and well-being of students. Nursing, being a demanding and high-stake profession, exposes students to considerable stress during their academic and clinical training. Effective interventions such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) can play a vital role in alleviating stress and enhancing coping abilities.</p> <p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of MBSR in reducing stress and improving well-being among undergraduate nursing students.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Methodology: </strong><strong>Methodology: </strong>A quasi-experimental one-group pretest–posttest design was adopted. Universal sampling was used to recruit 80 second-year undergraduate nursing students from the College of Nursing, AFPGMI Rawalpindi, who had recently commenced clinical rotations. Stress was measured using the stress subscale of the DASS-42 (14 items) at baseline, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. The 8-week MBSR program, developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, included mindfulness meditation, yoga, and body scan practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> Findings demonstrated both immediate and sustained benefits of the intervention.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> MBSR was found to be an effective strategy for stress reduction irrespective of demographic differences.&nbsp;Integration of structured mindfulness programs into nursing curricula may strengthen resilience, improve academic and clinical performance, and prepare students for future professional challenges.</p> Tahsin Babar Fozia Fatima Shazia Zaheer Nadira Nasim Uzma Shaheen Neelam Shahid Copyright (c) 2026 International journal of life sciences http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2026-06-27 2026-06-27 10 2 https://www.sciencescholar.us/journal/index.php/ijls/article/view/15953 <p><strong>Background:</strong> Waiting time for elective surgery is a global issue that varies across hospitals. Understanding the factors associated with waiting time is crucial. Current evidence is limited, and further quantitative research is needed.</p> <p><strong>Objective:</strong> To assess the magnitude and factors contributing to elective surgery waiting time at Wachemo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.</p> <p><strong>Method:</strong> A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2024. A total of 423 respondents were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected via questionnaire and chart review. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), waiting time/delay refers to: “The period from when a medical specialist adds a patient to the waiting list for the procedure, to the moment the patient receives treatment.” Multivariate logistic regression identified predictors (p&lt;0.05).</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> The prevalence of elective surgery waiting time was 320/423 (75.70%; 95% CI: 71.3–79.7). Significant predictors which are avoidable and preventable were known in this study. Some of patient related, staff related, management related and equipment related factors were statistically significant.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion and recommendation:</strong> The prevalence of elective surgery waiting time was high. Most identified factors were potentially modifiable through institutional interventions. Multi‑institutional studies are recommended.</p> Biruk Getiso Awata Copyright (c) 2026 International journal of life sciences http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2026-06-27 2026-06-27 10 2