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Enrollment Requirement

• Be officially admitted to and enrolled in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Master of Science in Nursing: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program.

• Maintain continuous enrollment in the PMHNP Program during the Fall semester in which they are applying for admission to the B2H Program.

• Remain in good academic standing throughout participation in the B2H Program.

• Meet any additional program-specific eligibility requirements outlined by the B2H Program and the UNLV School of Nursing.

B2H Program Trainee Expectations

Prospective applicants should carefully review the following expectations before beginning the B2H Program application.

Participation in the Bridge to Behavioral Health (B2H) Training Program requires an ongoing commitment to fulfill all academic, clinical training, program participation, documentation, reporting, and evaluation requirements.

Applicants selected for the B2H Program will be expected to:

1. Maintain eligibility and satisfactory academic standing in the UNLV Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program.

2. Complete all required clinical training hours and course activities within the timelines established by the UNLV PMHNP and B2H Programs.

3. Participate in required B2H orientations, meetings, professional development sessions, interprofessional education activities, surveys, evaluations, and other program-related events.

4. Complete and submit all required documentation, including clinical-hour reports, weekly case reports, demographic information, follow-up surveys, and other data requested for federal grant reporting and program evaluation.

5. Respond promptly to communications from B2H faculty and staff and report any changes that may affect eligibility or participation.

6. Provide accurate, complete, and truthful information throughout the application process and during participation in the program.

7. Comply with all applicable UNLV, School of Nursing, clinical-site, and B2H Program policies and procedures.

8. Make a good-faith effort to successfully complete the B2H Program and fulfill all training, service, documentation, and participation expectations.

Stipend Eligibility and Program Compliance

The B2H Program is supported by federal grant funding. Continued eligibility for stipend support is contingent upon maintaining program eligibility and completing all required activities, documentation, and reporting requirements.

Failure to maintain eligibility, meet program expectations, submit required documentation, or communicate appropriately with program leadership may result in corrective action, loss of stipend eligibility, repayment obligations when applicable, or dismissal from the B2H Program, in accordance with program and university policies.

Applicants will be required to formally acknowledge these expectations within the Qualtrics application before submitting their application.

Reporting Obligations

• Provide their National Provider Identifier (NPI) number upon receipt.

• Report employment status and practice location within one year after program completion.

Financial Aid Acknowledgment

• Eligible B2H Trainees must acknowledge understanding of how the stipend interacts with other financial aid and sign a contract during orientation and onboarding.

Application and Selection Process

• Prospective applicants must complete the Bridge to Behavioral Health (B2H) Program online application (Must already be admitted and enrolled as a student in the UNLV School of Nursing - Master of Science in Nursing: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program.)

• Each year, 16 B2H Trainees will be selected to participate in the B2H Program initiative.

Application Submission

• Applicants must submit a complete application by the stated deadline, including all required materials (e.g., personal statement, academic information, and supporting documentation).

Eligibility Screening

• Applications are reviewed to confirm eligibility requirements, including enrollment status, academic standing, and alignment with the B2H Program’s target disciplines and priorities.

Holistic Review

• Eligible applications undergo a holistic review that considers:

  1. Commitment to serving underserved, rural, and/or high-need populations

  2. Interest in behavioral and mental health practice

  3. Cultural responsiveness and lived or community-based experience

  4. Academic readiness and professional goals aligned with the program mission

Faculty Review Committee Evaluation

• Applications are evaluated by a multidisciplinary faculty review committee using standardized selection criteria to ensure fairness, consistency, and transparency.
  
  

Priority Consideration

• Priority may be given to applicants who:

  1. Demonstrate a strong commitment to working with underserved or at-risk populations

  2. Have an interest in interprofessional collaboration and workforce development

  3. Reflect backgrounds or experiences aligned with HRSA workforce diversity goals

Interview (If Applicable)

• Selected applicants may be invited to participate in an interview to further assess motivation, readiness, and fit with the B2H Program.
  
  

Final Selection and Approval

• Final trainee selections are made based on review scores, program capacity, funding availability, and cohort balance across disciplines and training tracks.

Notification of Decision

• Applicants are notified of their admission status (accepted, waitlisted, or not selected) via official program communication via Bridge2health@unlv.edu.

Acceptance and Onboarding

• Accepted trainees must formally accept the offer and complete required onboarding steps, including program agreements and orientation requirements.

Stipend Eligibility

• $25,000 stipend for one year.*

*Stipend is contingent on active participation and satisfactory progress.

Prospective students interested in B2H should direct their inquiries to Bridge2Health@unlv.edu for more information.

B2H Application Essay Questions
Applicants will respond to four essay questions. Each response must be 200 words or fewer. We recommend preparing your responses before opening the Qualtrics application.

1. Career Interest and Goals
Why are you interested in behavioral health as a career path, and how does this interest align with your long-term professional goals?

2. Serving Underserved Communities
How do you plan to serve youth and families in underserved or rural communities as part of your future practice?

3. Desired Skills and Training
What specific knowledge, skills, experiences, or training do you hope to gain by participating in the B2H Program?

4. Improving Behavioral Health Access in Nevada
If selected for the B2H Program, how will you apply the knowledge and experience gained through the program to improve access to behavioral and mental health services in Nevada?

Tips for Strong Responses

Be thoughtful, specific, and authentic. Address every part of each question and use concrete examples whenever possible. Before submitting, review each response for clarity, grammar, completeness, and compliance with the 200-word limit.

Confirm that you have reviewed the B2H Program Trainee Expectations, meet the eligibility requirements, and prepared responses to all four application essay questions.  Each response must be 200 words or fewer.

Apply for the 2026–2027 B2H Program

Select the link above to open the secure B2H Qualtrics application form.