In case you using nvm, node and npm ware installed as couple into the nodeVERSION directory. for example C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\nvm\v8.11.1
So in case that you want to upgrade npm version in specific node version all you need to to is: to copy dir node_modules/npm from the nodejs location, remove the npm bin and cmd, and run node npm-cli.js i -g npm@latest inside bin dir in the copied folder.
For understanding, in case you update npm using specific node version through nvm it'll be specific update of npm to the node version.
for instance: you have two versions of node:
1) v8.11.1
2) v9.8.0
In both of them npm version 5.8.0 installed.
In case you are using option 1 (version v8.11.1) and you want to upgrade npm version to npm 6.0.0 (using npm command npm i -g npm@6.0.0) the upgrade will be only for node option 1 and not for option 2.
So remember in case you switch back to option 2 the npm version will be 5.8.0.