How We Use Cookies and Similar Technologies
This page explains the cookies we use on boardofnursings.org/, what each one does, the controls you have, and how we honor opt-out signals including the Global Privacy Control under CCPA/CPRA, the Texas TDPSA, and other state privacy laws.
What’s on this page
1. What Cookies Are
A cookie is a small text file placed on your device when you visit a website. Cookies let a site remember your settings, whether you’ve dismissed a banner, or your session as you click around. Beyond classic cookies, websites use related technologies that do similar work: local storage, session storage, pixel tags / web beacons, and SDKs. On this page, “cookies” means all of these unless we say otherwise.
2. Why We Use Cookies
- To make the site work. Pages need to load, sessions need to stay consistent, and the cookie banner needs to remember your answer.
- To remember your preferences. Once you’ve set a cookie choice, we remember it.
- To measure how the site is used. Anonymous analytics tells us which content is useful and which pages have problems.
- To support advertising. Display advertising funds the site. Advertising cookies help limit ad frequency and measure performance.
3. The Four Categories
| Category | What it does | Opt-out available? |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly necessary | Lets the site load, serves the right page, protects against abuse, remembers your cookie choice | No (required for the service) |
| Functional | Remembers preferences (text size, dismissed notices) | Yes — manage in cookie settings |
| Analytics / performance | Counts visits, measures speed, identifies broken links | Yes — manage in cookie settings or browser |
| Advertising / targeting | Limits ad frequency, measures ad performance, supports relevant ads | Yes — manage in cookie settings, send GPC, or use industry opt-outs |
4. First-Party Cookies
| Name | Purpose | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| bn_consent | Stores your cookie consent choice | Strictly necessary | 12 months |
| bn_pref | Remembers display preferences and dismissed banners | Functional | 6 months |
| bn_session | Maintains your session across pages so the site loads consistently | Strictly necessary | Session (deleted when you close the browser) |
| bn_csrf | Security token used to protect against cross-site request forgery on contact forms | Strictly necessary | Session |
5. Third-Party Cookies
| Vendor | Purpose | Category | Privacy policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics 4 | Aggregate, anonymized site analytics | Analytics | policies.google.com/privacy · Opt-out add-on |
| Google AdSense | Display advertising, frequency capping, ad measurement | Advertising | policies.google.com/technologies/ads |
| Cloudflare | Security, bot mitigation, content delivery | Strictly necessary | cloudflare.com/privacypolicy |
We do not use cookies that fingerprint your device, sell your data to data brokers, or build cross-site behavioral profiles for resale beyond standard advertising frequency-capping and measurement. We never associate any cookie data with health or licensure data, both of which we don’t collect from you anyway.
6. Session vs Persistent Cookies
- Session cookies are temporary. They are deleted automatically when you close your browser.
- Persistent cookies stay on your device for a set period — anywhere from a day to a year or more.
7. Consent and Opt-Out
- California — under CCPA/CPRA, you have the right to opt out of “sale” and “sharing” of personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising. Use the cookie banner, the “Cookie settings” link in the footer, or send the Global Privacy Control signal.
- Texas — under the TDPSA, you have the right to opt out of targeted advertising.
- Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Oregon, Montana, and other states with comprehensive privacy laws — similar rights to opt out of targeted advertising and (where defined) sale of personal data.
- EU and UK visitors — under GDPR/UK GDPR and ePrivacy/PECR rules, we ask for opt-in consent before placing any non-essential cookie.
8. Global Privacy Control
The site honors the Global Privacy Control (GPC) browser signal. If your browser is configured to send GPC, we treat that as a valid opt-out under CCPA/CPRA, the Colorado Privacy Act, the Connecticut Data Privacy Act, and other state laws that recognize universal opt-out mechanisms. You don’t need to confirm anything; the signal is enough.
To learn more about GPC and how to enable it, visit globalprivacycontrol.org.
9. Changing Your Cookie Choices
You can re-open the cookie preference panel at any time by clicking the “Cookie settings” link in the site footer. Changes apply immediately. You can also clear cookies entirely using your browser’s privacy settings.
10. Browser-Level Controls
- Google Chrome: Manage cookies in Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox: Cookies in Firefox
- Apple Safari (Mac): Manage cookies in Safari
- Microsoft Edge: Cookies in Edge
- Brave Browser: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
The site will still load, but some functions may break — your consent choice won’t save, you may see the cookie banner on every visit, and certain interactive features may not work. Blocking strictly necessary cookies isn’t recommended.
11. Mobile Device Controls
- iPhone / iPad (iOS): Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking → toggle off “Allow Apps to Request to Track.” Also: Settings → Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising → toggle off “Personalized Ads.”
- Android: Settings → Google → Ads → toggle on “Opt out of Ads Personalization” (or “Delete advertising ID” in newer versions).
- Browser apps on mobile have their own cookie controls inside the app’s Settings menu.
12. Industry Opt-Outs
- Network Advertising Initiative (NAI): optout.networkadvertising.org
- Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA): optout.aboutads.info
- DAA AppChoices (mobile apps): youradchoices.com/appchoices
- Google Ad Settings: adssettings.google.com
13. Changes to This Policy
If we add a new vendor, change cookie durations, or update our consent tools, we will revise this page and update the “Last reviewed” date. Substantive changes will trigger a refreshed cookie banner so you can review and re-confirm your choices.
14. Questions About Cookies
- Email: info@boardofnursings.org
- Subject line: “Cookies”
Adjust Your Cookie Settings Anytime
Use the “Cookie settings” link in the site footer to change your choices, or send the Global Privacy Control signal from your browser for site-wide opt-out.
📧 info@boardofnursings.org