Since v3.1.44 it is possible to initialize nvm helper code on first-run thus improving shell load times. Set LAZY_LOAD_NODE=1 in ~/.bashrc. A first-time invocation of node, npm, or nvm will initialize nvm code, shimming the path as needed.
It is strongly recommended to select a Node version other than system default. LTS is typically recommended for maximum compatibility with packages on npm.
Example: changing Node versions:
# List remote Nodes
nvm ls-remote
# Install LTS release "boron" (6.11)
nvm install lts/boron