keeping your nursing skills up to date

since some places prefer hiring nurses with a year experience and as a graduate being hired is the only way of having a "year of experience." a recently graduate nurse is unable to find a job on time due to high number of experienced nurse. how can a graduate nurses maintain his/her nursing skills and knowledge up to date?

It has been 1.5 years since I graduated, and haven't found a job. For my skills, I'm looking into Continuing Education (my 'home' state requires CE credits to renew). I am also looking into getting common "certifications" that workplaces are looking for, such as ACLS, PALS & BLS. I'm also bringing out my textbooks (and study guides) to refresh myself on some of the stuff I don't remember as well (I believe tests or verbal questions are common during some interviews of new nurses). I decided I want to try to learn Spanish. There's even ways to get CE from some online Medical Spanish classes.I haven't really started it yet, but volunteering or working as a CNA (if possible in your state) is another way to get some "experience".

You joined today and your first 2 questions are pretty stilted.This looks like homework. Tell us, what do YOU think a new grad can do to keep their skills and knowledge up to date?

Some county hospitals have volunteering programs. I've been volunteering at the ER in my county hospital here in CA and I'm learning more than I ever learned in all my rotations combined. I also keep my skills and getting more and more comfortable with the hospital setting which is important too.