Objective To investigate　the effect of Roy adaptation model on quality of life in patients for lung cancer after surgery. Methods 178 cases of　patients with lung cancer after surgery operation　were randomly divided into observation groups(85 cases) and control groups(93 cases). The control group was treated with routine nursing care and the observation group was treated on the basis of routine nursing care plus Roy adaptation model nursing interventions. When the two groups were compared in patients hospitalized and discharged adaptability, treatment compliance, patient satisfaction and patient quality of life score. Results Hospitalization adaptation in the observation group was 87.1%(74 cases) and control group was 66.7%(67 cases). There was statistically significant difference between two groups(P<0.01); Excellent treatment compliance of observation group was 88.2%(75 cases) and control group was 72.0%(67 cases). There was statistically significant difference between two groups(P<0.01); the observation group patient satisfaction were 89.4%(76 cases), it was higher than 73.1%(68 cases) of control group. There was statistically significant difference between two groups(P<0.01); quality of life in general health score(74.1±8.3) in the observation group was higher than that of control group(56.7±5.9),and there was statistically significant difference between two groups(P<0.01). Conclusion Roy adaptation model nursing intervention may improve the adaptability hospitalized the patients with lung cancer after surgery, treatment compliance and the patient satisfaction, and significantly improve the quality of life of patients. It is worthy of promotion clinically.