How to deal with slack students

So it's a slacker generation and we should just deal with it?

You don't think those behaviors are appalling? I think when the students are asking staff to donate their time, efforts and experience to help them learn, the onus is NOT on the preceptor to deal with their "generational" issues - it's on the preceptor to outline their requirements, and it's on the student to follow them.

Lolling around at the desk, texting or emailing during clinical is NEVER acceptable, no matter what generation the student is from.

PS: I agree though, many kids these days have a huge sense of entitlement and no respect for people in authority (sorry I know that makes me sound like an old bag, but I deal with many of them!).

So, I've started precepting in my ICU. The students I've had thus far have been senior BSN students and new graduate RN's. When I was starting out in nursing, I would read the night before, ask "smart" questions, and make every effort to try new task and gain new experiences. I have been so disappointed with the ones who have come in to work with me. I understand that new grads will not know ICU drips and calculations, but not knowing what MAP is or means, not knowing that removing the patients o2 cannula can cause a patients o2 sats to drop, and text-ing at the desk, checking their e-mail, and taking random breaks at their convenience seems a little too much for me. I was never like this at a student. How can I get the new nurses or senior nursing students to take some initiative without "telling" their instructor or director, or making them feel dumb and like they can't hang a critical care unit??