National AACN Honor Recognizes FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Nurse Max Breaux’s Leadership

June 03, 2026

Baton Rouge, LA. — For Maxwell “Max” Breaux, nursing leadership has never been about recognition. It has been about showing up each day for patients, supporting his team and finding better ways to deliver safe, compassionate care in one of the hospital’s most demanding settings.

Over time, that steady, improvement-driven work has helped shape a safer and stronger environment for both patients and team members at FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake. Now, it is being recognized on a national stage.

Max Breaux, nursing director of the surgical intensive care unit at FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake, has been named a 2026 Circle of Excellence honoree by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, one of just 18 recipients recognized nationally.

Over his 12 years in critical care, Max has built a leadership approach grounded in collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement. At Our Lady of the Lake, that approach has led to meaningful results across quality, safety, patient experience and team development.

Under his leadership, the surgical intensive care unit achieved zero catheter-associated urinary tract infections for more than a year, consistently ranked in the top decile for patient satisfaction and increased unit certification rates by 50 percent.

Max also led a two-year effort to transition the unit to a closed-system IV catheter, a change that improved staff safety and helped prevent patient harm. Together, those efforts reflect the kind of measurable, practice-changing impact recognized through the Circle of Excellence Award.

“Max leads with both excellence and compassion, and this recognition reflects the kind of leader he is every day,” said Nicole Telhiard, chief nursing officer of FMOL Health. “He has invested so much in strengthening care for patients, supporting his team and building an environment where people can do their best work. What makes this honor so meaningful is that it recognizes years of thoughtful leadership, steady improvement and a genuine commitment to making care safer, stronger and more compassionate. We are incredibly proud of Max and grateful for the difference he makes across our ministry.”

For Max, the recognition reflects the work of the team around him as much as his own.

“This honor means a great deal to me, but it is really a reflection of the team and culture that make this work possible,” said Max. “At Our Lady of the Lake, we are encouraged to keep learning, keep improving and always look for better ways to care for patients. I’m grateful to work in an environment that supports that kind of progress.”

For those who know Max, this recognition reflects what they see in him every day — humility, consistency and a deep commitment to doing what is right for patients and team members. FMOL Health and Our Lady of the Lake are proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition.