Objective To explore the relationship between transition shock and self-efficacy of novice nurses, and the mediating role of future time perspective between them. Methods A total of 405 novice nurses from four tertiary general hospitals in Linyi city of Shandong Province were selected by convenience sampling method. The self-design demographic questionnaire, the Transition Shock of Newly Graduated Nurses Scale, General Future Time Perspective Questionnaire and Self-efficacy Scale were used for questionnaire survey. Results The novice nurses scored (81.60±19.04) points in transition impact, (56.14±10.28) points in future time perspective, (26.81±6.41) points in self-efficacy. Transformation impact was negatively correlated with future time perspective and self-efficacy (P＜0.01 for both); future time perspective partially mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and transformation impact, and the effect ratio was 55.63%. Conclusion Self-efficacy can directly influence transformation impact perceived by novice nurses, and it can also indirectly influence transformation impact through future time perspective.