Purpose: This study examined the relationships among reality shock, workplace friendship, grit, and turnover intention in new graduate nurses and the mediating effects of workplace friendship and grit. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted with 144 recently graduated nurses from medical institutions with more than 100 beds in Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do. Data were analyzed using SPSS/Win 25.0 for mean, standard deviation, t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation coefficients. The SPSS Process Macro Model 4 was used to examine the mediating effects. Results: Reality shocks significantly affected workplace friendships and grit. Although workplace friendship and grit were significant factors, reality shock was not. Bootstrapping analysis revealed that workplace friendships significantly mediated the relationship between reality shock and turnover intention, whereas grit did not. Conclusion: Developing programs to mitigate reality shock and assigning nurses to their preferred departments can reduce turnover intentions. Additionally, fostering communication and providing continuous mentoring to enhance workplace friendships are essential strategies.