Background The 2030 Agenda emphasizes sustainable development through innovation, science, and collaboration. For nursing, this framework aligns closely with person-centered care, prioritizing equity, health, and quality of life. Yet, the extent to which nursing research addresses the SDGs remains unclear. By applying bibliometric analysis of indexed nursing literature, this study provides an overview of current contributions and identifies areas where nursing can strengthen its role in advancing both sustainability and patient-centered practice. Aim To explore how nursing research engages with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), mapping publications to identify trends and central themes. The purpose is to highlight opportunities for nursing to contribute to sustainable health and well-being for individuals, next-of-kins, and communities. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive bibliometric design was used to analyze publications indexed in Web of Science (Core Collection). Results The search identified 131 publications, including 116 articles (89%) and 15 reviews (11%). Compared with adjacent disciplines such as Internal General Medicine (n = 360), Nutrition/Dietetics (n = 171), and Paediatrics (n = 152), nursing contributions were limited. Publications primarily addressed eight SDGs: SDG3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG13 (Climate Action), SDG4 (Quality Education), SDG5 (Gender Equality), SDG6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), SDG1 (No Poverty), and SDG9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Conclusions and Implications Nursing research on the SDGs remains scarce and disproportionately focused on SDG3. To realize nursing’s full potential, future work must expand to other SDGs while grounding efforts in person-centered care. Aligning global sustainability goals with the needs and preferences of patients and families allows nursing to advance both planetary health and individualized care. Embedding the SDGs more fully into nursing research and practice can strengthen person-centered care while supporting global health equity. Action plans developed by nursing scholars, clinicians, managers, and policymakers are essential to achieve this integration.