MASSENA -- After a violent suicide in the hospital, nurses at Massena Memorial Hospital will protest what they see as a lack of responsiveness from management to assure the safety of personnel at the hospital.

A news release from the New York State Nurses Association says that the nurses have been trying since September to address workplace violence in their work contract, but, they say, the hospital has has failed to agree.

The RNs at the hospital will stage an informational picket at the corner of Maple Street and Hospital Drive from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, to publicize their concern.

The Nurses Association represents 90 RNs at Massena Memorial. The union's most recent four-year contract expired Dec. 31.

The statement says that Assemblywoman Addie Russell will attend the session.

The statement says that "it's not enough for the hospital to instal;l more monitors and a panic button, and lock down the emergency room overnight." The nurses want to see "in writing, in their contract -- to ensuring adequate staff in the ER with the skills to handle patients who might compromise other patients' and employees' safety."