Usernode and workflow not playing nice

I'm using the old workflow (because I need the nodequeue module) and usernode. I have experience with both, so I am fairly confident things are properly configured.

I'm trying to use a workflow action to email an admin when someone registers for the the site (if there is a clean way other than the way I'm describing, please let me know). So I have a workflow state ("Created") for a workflow that applies to the usernode type. I currently have it so that ANYONE can transition from creation to Created (it also shows up in everyone's tabs...the purpose is to make sure I'm not experiencing a permissions problem). And of course the workflow is set up to do my email action for the transition.

So I pretend to be a new user and create an account. Then I log in using the creds from the email. The admin account doesn't get the email from the action. I take a look at the usernode node (as admin) and go to the 'Workflow' tab. It's still in the "Creation" state and there are no controls to change the state, and there is nothing in the transition history.

How can I get this to work? Or is it futile and I need to take another approach? Thanks!