Objective To observe the value of stepwise respiratory management strategy in improving patients with septic shock and acute lung injury（ALI）．Methods A total of 146 patients with septic shock and ALI treated in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2020 were included as the research objects．They were randomly divided into observation group（73 cases）and control group（73 cases）by digital table method．The control group received routine nursing plan,and the observation group received stepwise respiratory management．The differences of cardiopulmonary function before and after the intervention were compared．Results The levels of mean arterial pressure,PaCO₂ in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group,cardiac index,central venous pressure,extravascular lung water index,PaO₂ and oxygenation index in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group（P<0.05）．The success rate of resuscitation and total clinical effective rate in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group,and the resuscitation time and respiratory stability time in the observation group were significantly shorter than those in the control group（P<0.05）．The tracheotomy rate,the rate of using invasive ventilator and the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia and airway complications in the observation group were lower than those in the control group（P<0.05）．Conclusions The establishment of stepwise respiratory management strategy in patients with septic shock and ALI can significantly improve their cardiopulmonary function,improve the effect of clinical resuscitation and reduce the risk of related complications.