Objective: To explore the effect of Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model (IMB) guided hierarchical rehabilitation nursing on the recovery effect and quality of life of depression. Methods: A total of 100 cases of patients with depression treated in our hospital from December 2016 to January 2019 were selected for the study. The patients were divided into an observation group and a control group by random number table method, 50 cases in each group. The patients in the control group received routine rehabilitation nursing, while the patients in the observation group received graded rehabilitation nursing guided by IMB. The changes of quality of life score and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) depression score were recorded in two groups at different time points, the rehabilitation effect, nursing satisfaction and treatment compliance of the two groups were compared. Results: After nursing, the total effective rate of the observation group (96.00%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (76.00%), the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Before nursing, the quality of life scores of the two groups were compared (P>0.05); after nursing, the mental health, physical function, health, vitality and emotional role scores of the two groups of patients were significantly increased, and the observation group [(76.25±7.57) points, (73.48±6.23) points, (80.97±5.10) points, (78.31±6.37) points] were significantly higher than the control group [(65.38±7.52) points, (65.79±6.22) points, (74.55±5.09) points, (70.92±6.34) points]; the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Before nursing, HAMD depression scores of the two groups were compared (P>0.05); after nursing, the depression score of the observation group [(11.81±1.96) points] was significantly lower than that of the control group [(15.44±1.75) points]; the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The treatment compliance of the observation group (98.00%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (76.00%); the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The satisfaction scores of service concept, nursing quality, nursing technology and communication style of patients in the observation group [(76.23±7.54) points, (73.46±6.19) points, (80.95±5.06) points, (78.27±6.20) points] were significantly higher than those in the control group [(65.60±7.56) points, (65.77±6.18) points, (74.54±5.07) points, (70.89±6.30) points]; the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: The clinical effect of IMB guided grading rehabilitation is significant in patients with depression, and it can effectively improve the quality of life of patients, relieve the patients’ depressive symptoms, improve patients’ treatment compliance, increase patient satisfaction and promote the patients’ recovery process, which is worthy of clinical promotion.