BACKGROUND We aimed to comprehensively assess the association of multidisciplinary team (MDT)-based stepped nursing intervention with dyspnea index, pulmonary function, psychological outcomes, quality of life, and nursing satisfaction in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). MATERIAL AND METHODS Participants (n=150) were retrospectively recruited from patients with AECOPD treated from April 2022 to December 2024 and assigned into an MDT group (n=76) and routine group (n=74) based on nursing intervention modes. Intergroup and intragroup comparisons were conducted on dyspnea index, pulmonary function indices (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV₁], forced vital capacity [FVC], FEV₁/FVC, and maximum mid-expiratory flow [MMEF]), quality of life, psychological outcomes (anxiety and depression), and patient satisfaction with nursing care. RESULTS Following intervention, indicators of vital capacity (FEV₁, FVC, FEV₁/FVC, MMEF) rose significantly in both groups, and were significantly higher in the MDT group (P<0.05). Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale scores significantly decreased in both groups following intervention; the decrease in the MDT group was significantly greater than that in the routine group (P<0.05). Patient satisfaction with nursing care was significantly higher in the MDT group than in the routine group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The MDT-based stepped nursing intervention was associated with improvements in dyspnea severity, pulmonary function, psychological status, quality of life, and nursing satisfaction in patients with AECOPD. These findings should be interpreted as associative rather than causal, and further prospective studies with adjusted analyses and longer follow-up are warranted.