Aim: This bibliometric study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the history of empowerment in nursing using Reference Publication Year Spectroscopy (RPYS). Methods: Descriptive and bibliometric analyses were conducted. The study is based on 762 publications from 1983 to 2024, with 14,582 cited references in the Web of Science. The reference publication period was divided into three sub-periods, with a total of 17 peaks identified: four from the first period (earliest to 1980), six from the second (1981–2000), and seven from the last period (2001–2024). Data analysis was performed using RPYS with the CRExplorer. Results: Ten significant historical root publications, dating back to 1859, were identified, focusing on leadership, professionalism, social psychology, and philosophy of education. The earliest roots are linked to Florence Nightingale. In the recent period, there was a greater number of nursing-based root publications cited. Conclusion: This study is the first to identify the origins of influential nursing empowerment publications using RPYS. The earliest publications referenced in nursing empowerment literature originate from nursing. The RPYS proved to be a valuable approach for analyzing the historical roots of knowledge in nursing empowerment.