In case this is still an issue for you or anyone else; If I understand correctly, when you switch to bridged connection, you do have internet access on your simulator, but the QNX IDE does not find it via device discovery.
I just had the same problem, it can be solved by typing the simulator IP in by hand. Note that you have to use the address that VMWare displays at the very bottom of the content window, not the IP that is set in Development Settings.
I suspect the QNX IDE of only scanning a certain IP range for target devices. Thus, when you switch to bridged mode and your device obtains an arbitrary address in your LAN, it does not (necessarily) fall in that range.