De-skilled while waiting for RN registration in Ontario, any advice?

[MissMacUK]

I am a Registered Nurse trained in the UK with both diploma and degree qualifications. After 5yrs post qualification experience in emergency and ICU, I have emigrated to Ontario and am now a permanent resident. Unfortunately the College of Nurses of Ontario are taking their time with my registration, and I am currently waiting to be assessed by CEHPEA.

My problem is I have (up to now, October 2013) not been in a nursing job for 10 months, and am worried I am becoming so de-skilled that when I do eventually get registered(possibly another 12 months), no job will want me, and/or I will need retraining.

I have looked at volunteering within hospital environment but found they seem to actively discourage foreign trained medical professionals, and I quote;

"Each year, Volunteer Resources receives many volunteer applications from foreign trained professionals. While we are pleased to accept your application, volunteers at Trillium Health Centre are not permitted to take on any tasks or responsibilities that fall outside the scope of the volunteer role. Any tasks or responsibilities that only a member of a licensed or regulated profession (physician, pharmacist, physiotherapist, laboratory technician, etc.) can legally perform are not included in any volunteer role descriptions.

Volunteering will not allow you the opportunity to practice or develop your clinical or technical skills, nor are our volunteer roles designed to be professional internship opportunities. Also, for reasons of patient privacy, Trillium Health Centre does not permit volunteers to shadow physicians or other health care professionals."

Feeling stuck, any suggestions?!

Thanks!